How to adapt road spaces to vulnerable road users with disabilities

Road spaces are designed to enable movement. Yet for many people with disabilities, they can also become environments of uncertainty, constraint and increased exposure to risk. Understanding how infrastructure is used in real conditions is essential to ensure that public space is not only accessible, but also safe.

intersection with a stop sign and a crosswalk

Why people with disabilities face greater risks in public space

People with disabilities interact with road environments in ways that differ from standard assumptions embedded in infrastructure design. Reduced mobility, visual or auditory impairments, and the need for assistive devices all influence how space is perceived and navigated.

In complex environments such as intersections, crossings or shared spaces, these differences can significantly increase exposure to risk.
Short crossing times, unclear signalling or high traffic density can create situations where anticipation becomes difficult and margins for error are reduced.

These challenges highlight a key issue: risk is not equally distributed across users. It is shaped by how infrastructure aligns or fails to align with diverse needs.

Why accessibility is a key component of road safety

Accessibility is often addressed as a matter of inclusion or compliance. However, it is also a core dimension of road safety. When infrastructure does not accommodate all users, it creates situations where individuals must adapt their behaviour in ways that increase exposure.

Detours, hesitation, or unexpected movements can generate conflicts with other road users. Improving accessibility therefore contributes directly to reducing risk. It ensures that all users can move predictably, safely and within environments that match their capabilities.

The role of data in understanding risks for vulnerable road users

Many risks faced by people with disabilities remain invisible in traditional safety data. They do not always result in recorded incidents, yet they shape everyday exposure to danger. Mobility data offers a complementary perspective. By analysing movement patterns, speeds and interactions, it becomes possible to identify areas where accessibility constraints lead to complex or unsafe situations.

For example, data can help detect:

Areas with irregular movement patterns indicating uncertainty
Zones where interactions between users are particularly dense

These insights provide a more accurate understanding of how infrastructure performs in real conditions.

Designing safer and more inclusive road environments

Adapting road spaces to vulnerable road users with disabilities requires moving beyond standard design assumptions. It involves understanding how different users experience the same environment and how infrastructure can better support those differences.

By analysing the areas frequented by these drivers and overlaying driving behaviour data, such as speed, lane deviations, and sudden braking, MICHELIN Mobility Intelligence helps mobility providers identify where the danger lies.

Looking to better understand how your road network serves all users? MICHELIN Mobility Intelligence supports public authorities with data-driven mobility insights.

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