KEY ISSUES TO ADDRESS KEY ISSUES TO ADDRESS ROAD SAFETYROAD SAFETY

Presentation to WRI on January 14, 2010 Presentation to WRI on January 14, 2010 byby

Stein LundebyeStein LundebyeFormer Senior Transport EngineerFormer Senior Transport Engineer

World BankWorld BankWashington, DC,Washington, DC,

U.S.A.U.S.A.

1.2 million die a year1.2 million die a year

20-50 million more are 20-50 million more are

injured or disabledinjured or disabled

11th leading cause of 11th leading cause of

deathdeath

account for 2.1% of all account for 2.1% of all

deaths globallydeaths globally

Road traffic injuries are a huge public health and development problem

WHO GraphWHO Graph

WHO IS AT RISK WHO IS AT RISK IN ROAD ACCIDENTS ?IN ROAD ACCIDENTS ?

40 – 50% of persons killed are pedestrians in 40 – 50% of persons killed are pedestrians in developing countriesdeveloping countries

20 – 40% of accidents involve public transport 20 – 40% of accidents involve public transport vehicles in developing countriesvehicles in developing countries

40-50% of road deaths are cyclists & motorcyclists40-50% of road deaths are cyclists & motorcyclists

in some Asian countries (Vietnam, Laos, Thailand)in some Asian countries (Vietnam, Laos, Thailand) About 20% of killed and injured persons are under About 20% of killed and injured persons are under

15 years old15 years old Mostly poor people are involved in road crashesMostly poor people are involved in road crashes

HOW TO IMPROVEHOW TO IMPROVEROAD SAFETY IN ROAD SAFETY IN

DEVELOPING COUNTRIESDEVELOPING COUNTRIESThe following actions should be taken:The following actions should be taken: Establish a National Road Safety Establish a National Road Safety

Authority with a SecretariatAuthority with a Secretariat Establish a Road Safety FundEstablish a Road Safety Fund Develop and implement Road Develop and implement Road

Safety Strategy and Action Plan Safety Strategy and Action Plan Provide resources to fund and Provide resources to fund and

sustain the actions shown in the RSAP sustain the actions shown in the RSAP

DEVELOPMENT OF A DEVELOPMENT OF A ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY

AND ACTION PLANAND ACTION PLAN Road Safety should appear prominently in Road Safety should appear prominently in

the Government’s transport policy and the Government’s transport policy and proper allocation of resources requiredproper allocation of resources required

A Road Safety Action Plan (RSAP) must A Road Safety Action Plan (RSAP) must be realistic, achievable and affordablebe realistic, achievable and affordable

The Action Plan should be reviewed The Action Plan should be reviewed annually and evaluated on a regular basis.annually and evaluated on a regular basis.

CONTENT OF THE PLANCONTENT OF THE PLANThe road safety strategy and action plan should be covering The road safety strategy and action plan should be covering the following key areas:the following key areas:

Safer Road Users Safer Road Users

Safer Roads and Roadsides Safer Roads and Roadsides

Safer Vehicles Safer Vehicles

Safer Systems and Management, including legislation, Safer Systems and Management, including legislation, enforcement, and emergency servicesenforcement, and emergency services

Description of roles and responsibly for each of the implementing agencies involved, and budget estimates for each agency should be included in the RS Action Plan

Recommendations for Effective Actions 1.1. Provide support to Government committees, agencies, or Provide support to Government committees, agencies, or

organisations responsible for road safety co-ordination and organisations responsible for road safety co-ordination and managementmanagement

2.2. Provide funding for road safety activities, and research Provide funding for road safety activities, and research additional sourcesadditional sources

3.3. Promote community and NGO involvement in road safety Promote community and NGO involvement in road safety activitiesactivities

4. The Traffic Police should enforce traffic laws more effectively

5. The traffic legislation should be reviewed and recommend improvements

6. Plan and implement all-year-round program for publicity campaigns

7. Prepare and implement road safety education programs for children

8. Review vehicle testing system and recommend improvements

9. Review driver licensing system, driver training and testing procedures and implement improvements needed

10. Develop and finance programs for road safety research

11. Review present arrangements for emergency medical assistance to road accident victims and implement recommended improvements

12. Encourage establishment of national road safety NGOs and provide support to these NGOs

Road Safety Action PlanRoad Safety Action Plan

WHO DOES WHATWHO DOES WHAT Commitment at the highest level of the Government essential Commitment at the highest level of the Government essential

for successfor success

Success depends also on many key stakeholders working Success depends also on many key stakeholders working together (MOT, Roads Dept., Police, MOH, MOE, NGOs, together (MOT, Roads Dept., Police, MOH, MOE, NGOs, etc.)etc.)

A lead organization to be identified (The National Road A lead organization to be identified (The National Road Safety Authority )Safety Authority )

Regional Road Safety Councils (administrative and financial Regional Road Safety Councils (administrative and financial support will be required). Establish District Road Safety support will be required). Establish District Road Safety Committees to be very involved at local levelCommittees to be very involved at local level

Promote partnerships with private sector and NGOs.Promote partnerships with private sector and NGOs.

Objectives ofObjectives of Community Road Community Road SafetySafety by NGOs by NGOs

Main objective reduction of road Main objective reduction of road traumatrauma

Creating an informed communityCreating an informed community Mobilizing local resourcesMobilizing local resources Promoting effective road safety Promoting effective road safety

actionsactions Integrating road safety activities with Integrating road safety activities with

other public health initiativesother public health initiatives

BRAC Community Road Safety ProgramBRAC Community Road Safety Program

ActivitiesActivities– Training:Training: Trainer- 79, Field Staff- 2599Trainer- 79, Field Staff- 2599 – RS NGO/CBO Network:RS NGO/CBO Network: 244244– Road Safety TheatreRoad Safety Theatre– IEC Material developed and used:IEC Material developed and used: Posters and FlipchartsPosters and Flipcharts

– School Education:School Education: NFPE - 1.1 m studentsNFPE - 1.1 m students– Animation RS CartoonAnimation RS Cartoon: : Lal-Holud-aar ShobujLal-Holud-aar Shobuj– Drivers Training:Drivers Training: Defensive Driving Workshops, Training Defensive Driving Workshops, Training

of drivers for heavy commercial vehiclesof drivers for heavy commercial vehicles– Research: Research:

Community Traffic Policing and Community Road Safety Community Traffic Policing and Community Road Safety Education projects in partnership with TRL, UKEducation projects in partnership with TRL, UK

– Many Road Safety Public Awareness Campaigns (RSPACs)Many Road Safety Public Awareness Campaigns (RSPACs) carried out for RHD, MOCcarried out for RHD, MOC

VALUE FOR MONEYVALUE FOR MONEY

Governments have a moral responsibility for the safety of Governments have a moral responsibility for the safety of citizens. Added advantage in investing in road safety:citizens. Added advantage in investing in road safety:

Investments in road safety provides Rate of Returns Investments in road safety provides Rate of Returns (ERR) that cannot be matched by any other (ERR) that cannot be matched by any other investment within the transport sectorinvestment within the transport sector

Many studies have shown that low cost engineering Many studies have shown that low cost engineering improvements of hazardous locations can give ERR improvements of hazardous locations can give ERR of more than 100 -300%of more than 100 -300%

AfterBefore

Before and After Scenario NH 47 (Enchakal, Kerala State, India)

Accident Site Improvement ProgramAccident Site Improvement Program

Returns in Road SafetyReturns in Road Safety Average cost of a simple blackspot improvement = US$ 10 - 20,000Average cost of a simple blackspot improvement = US$ 10 - 20,000 Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) of Accident Blackspots Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) of Accident Blackspots

generally comes in the range of 100%-300%generally comes in the range of 100%-300%

Case Study- Enchakkal RoundaboutCase Study- Enchakkal Roundabout Capital Cost = US$ 20,000 ( Constructed in 2003)Capital Cost = US$ 20,000 ( Constructed in 2003) Reduction accident by 60% ( In 2004)Reduction accident by 60% ( In 2004) Accident Savings in first year about US $ 45,000Accident Savings in first year about US $ 45,000 First Year Rate of Return(FYRR) = 223%First Year Rate of Return(FYRR) = 223%

Total economic loss due to road accidents in Kerala State for 2004 was Total economic loss due to road accidents in Kerala State for 2004 was

US$ 900 mill. , which is more or less same as the annual PWD budget.US$ 900 mill. , which is more or less same as the annual PWD budget.

Effective Road Safety Schemes Effective Road Safety Schemes (UK)(UK)

Measure Measure FYRR (%) FYRR (%) Treatment of bends (signs & markings) 722Treatment of bends (signs & markings) 722 Priority junctions 523Priority junctions 523 Cycle schemes 444Cycle schemes 444 Signalized intersections 266Signalized intersections 266 Traffic calming 260Traffic calming 260 Pedestrian facilities 246Pedestrian facilities 246 Areawide schemes 225Areawide schemes 225 Roundabouts 177Roundabouts 177

SpeedSpeed

AlcoholAlcohol

Seat-belts and child restraintsSeat-belts and child restraints

HelmetsHelmets

VisibilityVisibility

Solutions can be adapted in low- and middle-income countries

1.1. Identify a lead agency in government to guide Identify a lead agency in government to guide

the national road traffic safety effort.the national road traffic safety effort.

2.2. Assess the problem, policies and institutional Assess the problem, policies and institutional

settings.settings.

3.3. Prepare a national road safety strategy and a Prepare a national road safety strategy and a

plan of action.plan of action.

4.4. Allocate financial and human resources to Allocate financial and human resources to address the road safety problem.address the road safety problem.

World Health Report Recommendations

5. Implement specific actions to prevent road traffic 5. Implement specific actions to prevent road traffic crashes, minimize injuries and their crashes, minimize injuries and their consequences and evaluate the impact of these consequences and evaluate the impact of these actions.actions.

6. Support the development of national capacity and 6. Support the development of national capacity and international cooperation. international cooperation.

Recommendations

Road safety is a shared responsibility

GOVERNMENT & LEGISLATIVE BODIES

MEDIA

PROFESSIONALS

NGOs, SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPSPOLICE

INDUSTRY

USERS / CITIZENS

ROAD INJURY PREVENTION

POLICY

Safe Systems ApproachSafe Systems Approach

An essential tool for effective road accident An essential tool for effective road accident prevention is the adoption of a safe systems prevention is the adoption of a safe systems approach to:approach to:

Identify road safety problemsIdentify road safety problems Formulate road safety strategyFormulate road safety strategy Set targets for injury reductionSet targets for injury reduction Monitor performance of various Monitor performance of various

implemented road safety activitiesimplemented road safety activities

CONCLUSIONS : PRIORITIES WITHIN CONCLUSIONS : PRIORITIES WITHIN INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIESINDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES

One of the main problems is the lack of political One of the main problems is the lack of political willingness to carry out road safety. Funding for road willingness to carry out road safety. Funding for road safety measures is really not the problem but the priorities safety measures is really not the problem but the priorities for safety actions are real problems for governmentsfor safety actions are real problems for governments

Need to identify inadequacies in each sector of road safetyNeed to identify inadequacies in each sector of road safety Organization of national seminars to raise awareness Organization of national seminars to raise awareness

amongst political decision makersamongst political decision makers Establish effective road accident database (e.g. MAAP)Establish effective road accident database (e.g. MAAP) Establish interim working group to co-ordinate road safety Establish interim working group to co-ordinate road safety

activities until formal NRSC can be set upactivities until formal NRSC can be set up Development of key road safety professionalsDevelopment of key road safety professionals

Development and implementation of country Development and implementation of country specific short-term Road Safety Action Plan specific short-term Road Safety Action Plan (duration 2-3 years)(duration 2-3 years)

Development and Implementation of long- term Development and Implementation of long- term

(e.g. 5 year) road safety program(e.g. 5 year) road safety program Governments cannot - even if they do their best - Governments cannot - even if they do their best -

manage the road safety challenge alone and manage the road safety challenge alone and therefore they need support by the society, therefore they need support by the society, including the NGOsincluding the NGOs

NGOs involvement can contribute to NGOs involvement can contribute to sustainability and effectiveness by introducing sustainability and effectiveness by introducing innovative approaches and promoting innovative approaches and promoting community participation in road safetycommunity participation in road safety

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention

Proposed Actions by Multi-lateral Proposed Actions by Multi-lateral and Bi-lateral Lending Agenciesand Bi-lateral Lending Agencies