This paper has been produced as part of the TRKC (Transport Research Knowledge Centre) project of the Sixth Framework Programme. The role of TRKC, as its predecessor project EXTRaWeb, is to collect, structure, analyse and disseminate transport research results. It provides comprehensive coverage of transport research in EU programmes as well as key research activities at national level within the European Research Area and selected global programmes. The paper is one of the thematic research summaries (TRS). The TRSs aim at providing a synthesis of research results and policy implications from completed projects. Each TRS deals with a theme according to the classification which the TRKC project has adopted. The theme of this TRS is "safety and security". The first part of the paper includes a brief analysis of the scope of the theme, and a policy review where the main policy developments at EU level are summarised. The theme "safety and security" deals with (a) the level of danger that is socially acceptable in a real-life situation, taking into account other factors such as efficiency, cost, liberty and comfort, and (b) systems, rules and procedures aimed at preventing, discouraging and detecting negligent, irresponsible or malicious human acts which threaten safety.