In 1999 A BASt-project group of scientists and practitioners, under commission of the German Federal Ministry of Transport, elaborated programmatic proposals for new approaches to the improvement of road traffic safety. In this context it is important to take into account the federal structure of the Federal Republic of Germany with political independence of the 16 Laender in many sensitive areas of road safety like police enforcement, school education as well as regional and local authorities investments for the road infrastructure. Federal government therefore has always to be aware, that bottom-up activities are unavoidable for a sustainable and strategic road safety work. The paper presents the proposals under the following headings: 1) Safety potential; 2) Behavioural influence; 3) Traffic infrastructure design; 4) Vehicle safety and telematics; 5) Emergency medical services; and 6) Implementation and funding of sustainable road safety.