This conference was the 13th in a series of road safety conferences starting in 1987 with emphasis on two continents, Europe and North America. In year 2000 the conference included three continents, also Africa, and this time emphasis was even broader with four continents including Asia. The main objective of the Conference was to explore emerging research and developments in the area of Road Safety. Special emphasis was towards the application of research and to involve developing countries and countries in transition in the event both as presenters and as delegates. A principle theme was the pros and cons of applied research done in the 'north' to problems in the 'south'.