Introduction
The Safe System Capacity and Capability Study: Phase 2, commissioned by Transport Scotland, seeks to embed Safe System principles across Scotland’s road safety landscape to help realise the ambition of achieving the best road safety performance in the world. Building on the foundational work delivered during Phase 1, the second phase of the programme has aimed to deliver comprehensive training, mature the cultural understanding of Safe System concepts across partner organisations, and develop a Safe System Manual co-produced with international experts.
To assess the effectiveness and implementation of this second phase, ECM Research Solutions was commissioned to conduct an independent process evaluation. This evaluation aims to provide a structured assessment of the programme’s delivery, stakeholder and participant experiences, and emerging impacts. The evaluation draws on multiple data sources, including interviews with key stakeholders and survey responses from training participants, to generate actionable insights and recommendations for future Safe System development in Scotland.
Purpose of the report
The purpose of this report is to present the findings of the independent process evaluation of the Safe System Capacity and Capability Study: Phase 2. Specifically, the report seeks to:
- Verify whether the programme of work was delivered in line with the agreed scope and milestones;
- Evaluate the satisfaction and experiences of Transport Scotland and its delivery partners;
- Analyse qualitative and quantitative data from stakeholders and training participants;
- Identify lessons learned to support the continuous improvement of Safe System implementation in Scotland.
The report is intended for use by Transport Scotland and its partners to inform future phases of capacity building, training, and strategic development aligned with the Safe System approach.
Structure of the report
This report is structured to provide a clear and comprehensive account of the Building Capacity in the Safe System: Phase 2 programme and the findings from its independent process evaluation. Section 1 introduces the background and context for the programme and outlines the aims and approach of the process evaluation. Section 2 provides an overview of the programme itself, describing its origins, objectives, delivery model, target audiences, and the key activities undertaken during Phase 2.
Section 3 outlines the process evaluation methodology, detailing the evaluation questions, data sources, and approach to data collection and analysis. Section 4 presents the main findings of the evaluation, drawing on both stakeholder interviews and survey responses. The results are structured around key themes, including training delivery and implementation, participant experiences, knowledge gains and confidence, application of learning, and barriers to implementation.
Section 5 offers a discussion of the findings, interpreting them in relation to the programme’s goals and identifying areas of strength, as well as opportunities for future development. Finally, Section 6 draws overall conclusions from the evaluation and outlines a set of evidence-based recommendations to support continued progress in building Safe System capacity across Scotland.