(KuSS - Kuratorium für Schutz und Sicherheit
former KfV) is an institution organised on a
private enterprise basis which is funded by its members, the private insurance companies
and the Austrian Workers' Compensation Board AUVA. Other members include Austria's two
motoring associations, ARBÖ
and ÖAMTC.
The principle of the Board's safety work is to
apply an interdisciplinary method to expert work in the Institutes of Traffic Engineering
and Accident Statistics, Traffic Psychology, Traffic Education, Driver Education and Motor
Vehicle Technology. Close co-operation with all relevant bodies and institutions at both
national and international level plays a key role in the Board's work. Since 1959 driving
aptitude examinations have been conducted for public authorities at this institute.
In the 80s the institute developed computerised test devices. Among many others research
studies on the influence of alcohol, drugs and medicine, studies on the enforcement of
traffic laws and studies on cultural influences are worth being mentioned. The institute
is the co-ordinator of the projects GADGET
and DAN, and it was involved in SARTRE 1 and 2
and PROMISING.
Dr.Birgit Bukasa studied psychology at the University of Vienna, finished with Ph.D.
Employed at the Kuratorium für Verkehrssicherheit
(KfV) at the Institute of Traffic Psychology
since 1982. Main fields of activity: Development of tests and test devices for selection of
drivers, pilots and ATCO candidates, selection of drivers, pilots and ATCO candidates,
driver improvement. She is responsible for the development of psychological tests and
especially for the development of the new test devices - the ART 2020 family.
Additional qualifications: Health and clinical psychologist since 1993, behavioural
therapist since 1998. Head of the section of traffic psychologists at the Austrian
Association of Professional Psychologists since 1996.
Dr. Werner Klemenjak studied psychology at the University of Vienna and finished
with Ph.D. He works at the Kuratorium für Verkehrssicherheit
since 1977. Main activities during this years: driver selection, driver improvement, opinion research, research management,
dep. head at the Inst. of Traffic Psychology. Additional qualification: Health and clinical
psychologist, member of market and opinion research board of Austria, Lecturer for traffic
psychology at the Univ. of Vienna. Research and publications on issues like: introduction of
breathalyzers in Austria, acceptance of enforcement strategies, driver attitudes, impact of
safety campaigns, marketing of traffic safety, communication in traffic safety work.
Participant in several international projects: SARTRE, ESCAPE,YES-PRI.
Mr. Michael Gatscha (University degree in Psychology, born 1975) is a traffic psychologist of the
Austrian Road Safety Board.
He has experience of various kinds of national and international studies regarding road safety. Since 1999 he is co-worker and
researcher on various EU- projects (e.g. NovEV
- Evaluation of Novice Driver Training Schemes in 6 EU Member States). Research and publications on issues like: driver education
and training, novice drivers, observation of driving behaviour, driver attitudes.
