Abstract
The EVU was founded in 1991, by accident analyst Dr. Burg, for experts in the field of accident analysis and accident research. The first conference took place in Vienna in 1992. The association was managed directly from its headquarters in Wiesbaden until the year 2000, when it was restructured due to the constantly growing number of members. Now, the EVU consists of an umbrella association (called the `EVU´) with its headquarters in Hamburg, and various country groups (named after the respective country, for example, `EVU Hungary´ for the Hungarian country group). Each European country has the opportunity to establish its own country group. Many EU countries, as well as Switzerland, have already made use of this opportunity. At the moment, the whole EVU association has approximately 500 members.
According to its statute, the EVU serves the purpose of promoting improvement of the basis of accident research, and of the methodology of accident analysis, as well as to make a contribution to the increase in legal security in the process. The EVU improves traffic safety, within the realms of its possibilities, by publishing information on the unfolding of accidents and by deriving concepts for the improvement of active and passive safety from the knowledge gained from the unfolding of actual accidents.
The EVU carries out its own research or takes part in suitable projects. The results are primarily made available to its members. However, such information is also passed on to the general public in the form of publications and congresses.
Members appointed by the EVU contribute to national and international specialist committees and introduce the expertise of the association in this way. The EVU makes every effort to support international cooperation for the further development of science and research in the realm of traffic safety and accident research. The association is also committed to the harmonisation of training and appointment of experts.