Stepping Up the Fight Against Road Deaths
Every year, almost 1.3 million people are killed in road crashes around the globe, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In September, world leaders vowed to “halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2020” at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York.
The target of a 50% reduction in road deaths is much more ambitious than the previous international commitment: The UN “Decade of Action for Road Safety”, running from 2011 to 2020, set as its aim to first halt the rise in the number of road deaths and then begin to reduce them by 2020.
Achieving the new benchmark, codified as part of Sustainable Development Goal (or SDG) number 3.6, will require a drastic acceleration in the implementation of highly effective road safety policies. It is a particular challenge for low and middle income countries which face rapid motorisation and where 90% of road fatalities occur.
“The International Transport Forum welcomes ambitious targets for improved road safety”, said ITF Secretary General José Viegas. “Benchmarks for reducing the death toll on our roads should be set at all levels – global, national and local.”
“The new UN target is the most ambitious to date. The global community will have to draw on all the available expertise, resources and initiatives to move towards halving global road deaths as soon as possible”, added Viegas. “The ITF will do its best to share knowledge about good road safety policies and help to implement them.”
This week, the ITF launches four new reports to help policy makers choose the most effective approaches to improving road safety in their national context:
- Improving Safety for Motorcycle, Scooter and Moped Riders
The number of powered two-wheelers (PTW) is growing. In many countries, they play an increasing role for mobility, notably in cities. But PTW riders are at a much higher risk than car drivers. Also, PTWs haven’t benefitted from safety improvements as cars in recent years. This new report gives nine policy recommendations on how to improve safety for riders of motorcycles, scooters and mopeds. Available for free online browsing and purchase from the OECD iLibrary (also by chapter).
- Why does Road Safety Improve When Economic Times Are Hard?
Are some of the recent reductions in the number of road deaths due to the economic downturn and not to better road safety policies? Not only some but up to two thirds, argues this fascinating study underpinned by detailed statistical analysis. The report raises the possibility of a resurgence in road deaths as economic growth picks up and cautions policy makers to focus on preparing for that moment now. (Available for free downloadhere)
- Road Infrastructure Safety Management
Road Infrastructure Safety Management (or RISM) refers to sets of procedures that support road authorities in decision making for the safety of a road network. This report describes the most consolidated RISM approaches, identifies best practices, weaknesses, barriers to implementation and gives 12 recommendations on how to save human lives through use of RISM procedures. (Available for free download here)
- 2015 Road Safety Annual Report
This report provides consistent, comparable road safety statistics and policy information across 38 countries, including the best-performing nations that achieve fewer than three road deaths per 100 000 inhabitants. The IRTAD report, as it is known for short, is an essential tool for policy makers wishing to gain an understanding of the successes and difficulties of road safety policy from an international perspective. (Available for free online browsing and purchase from the OECD iLibrary ‑ also by chapter)
Another ITF Working Group is currently preparing a report on road safety as a safe system. This report will be published in late 2016 and build on the seminal report “Towards Zero: Ambitious Road Safety Targets and the Safe System Approach” (ITF, 2008). More information here (including quotable video interviews with the Working Group chair, Iain Cameron, Australia).
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT FORUM
Who we are
The International Transport Forum is an intergovernmental organisation with 57 member countries. It acts as think tank for transport policy and organises the Annual Summit of transport ministers. ITF is the only global body that covers all transport modes. The ITF is politically autonomous and administratively integrated with the OECD.
What we do
ITF works for transport policies that improve peoples’ lives. Our mission is to foster a deeper understanding of the role of transport in economic growth, environmental sustainability and social inclusion and to raise the public profile of transport policy.
How we do it
The ITF organises global dialogue for better transport. We act as a platform for discussion and pre-negotiation of policy issues across all transport modes. We analyse trends, share knowledge and promote exchange among transport decision-makers and civil society. The ITF’s Annual Summit is the world’s largest gathering of transport ministers and the leading global platform for dialogue on transport policy.
