Besides technical advancement and detailed regulation, the transition from a traditionally rule based to a risk based system contributed in a significant way to the positive development of railway safety records, leading to a generally high safety level over the last decades. A consequent implementation of a risk based system is necessary to address future developments, i.e. proactively identify and mitigate new or increasing risks due to the introduction of new technologies and the involved operational changes. However, a risk based approach has drawbacks and its establishment by regulation is not a sufficient condition to assure a benefit from the implementation.
The Move from Rule Based to Risk Oriented System – Challenges for the Competent Authorities, T Schaller (Paper)
