Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen (Federal Highway Research Institute), Germany

Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) - GERMANY

The Federal Highway Research Institute (Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen - BASt) is a technical and scientific research institute with a responsibility for scientifically sound assistance in making decisions on technical issues and transport policy. The Institute also plays an important role in drawing up and harmonising national and European regulations and standards. The BASt began its work in 1951 and in 1965 it was commissioned to extend its remit beyond road construction to include working to increase the capacity and efficiency of the roads and to improve road safety. In 1970, the German Federal Parliament appointed it to be the central agency for accident research. The BASt now has approximately 400 employees whose work covers all fields related to roads, highway construction technology, bridges and structural technology, traffic engineering, automotive engineering and behaviour and safety in traffic.

BASt is in close contact with the German Road and Transportation Research Association, the German Road Safety Council, the authorities of the federal states and with relevant sectors of industry.