Which approach involves a holistic view to improving road safety by considering road interactions?

The safe systems method is the correct choice because it emphasizes a comprehensive approach to road safety. This method recognizes that road interactions among users, vehicles, and the road environment are interconnected and that a failure in one area can lead to safety issues across the system. It advocates for designing roads and traffic systems that accommodate human errors and vulnerabilities, aiming to reduce the likelihood and severity of crashes.

By considering the holistic interactions that occur on the road—such as how pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and infrastructure interact—the safe systems method seeks to create safer transportation environments that can effectively reduce the risk of collisions and injuries. This approach generally includes strategies like improved road design, better signage, education and awareness campaigns, and enforcement of traffic regulations—all factors that work together to enhance overall road safety.

In contrast, the critical collision rate method focuses primarily on analyzing collision statistics to identify and address specific high-risk locations based on the frequency of accidents, while the empirical Bayes method is used in analyzing data to estimate safety outcomes based on observed trends. Network screening typically involves identifying streets or areas with higher-than-expected accident rates but does not take into account the broader interactions and systemic issues like the safe systems method does.