Road safety: What works?

Margie Peden

Coordinator, Unintentional Injury Prevention

Department of Injuries and Violence Prevention

World Health Organization

1.3 million deaths

20-50 million injuries

The social cost of road traffic injuries is enormous

Road traffic injuries will rise to the 5th cause of death by 2030

Most are vulnerable road users

Road traffic deaths are increasing in LMICs

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Road safety should be addressed using a “systems approach”

Infrastructure

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Road traffic crashes can be prevented

Road safety is a shared responsibility

GOVERNMENT & LEGISLATIVE

BODIES

MEDIA

PROFESSIONALS

NGOs, SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPSPOLICE

INDUSTRY

USERS / CITIZENS

ROAD INJURY PREVENTION

POLICY

What can be done?How can NGOs help

Someone needs to be in charge

• Implementing a lead agency– One department − responsibility − accountability– Funding– National / local strategies − all crash phases

• Lobbying by NGOs – For such an organization– For greater focus on road safety in general– Raise funds for road safety– Influence the development of strategies with measurable

targets– Remembering the post crash phase

Collecting data

• Data is essential to understand– Magnitude– Prioritization– Evaluation

• NGOs can – Assist multisectoral data collection– Conduct their own specific studies– Assess impact/effectiveness − own programmes– Use science-based data to lobby for

• Infrastructural changes• Safety and rights of vulnerable road users• Safer public transportation• Safety around school/urban areas

– Personal stories

The story of ONE loved one can move an

audience much more than statistics without

faces!

Legislation and education TOGETHER – the example of drinking and driving

• What WORKS– Minimum drinking age– 0.05 g/dl for general public +

enforcement– Lower than that for novice /

commercial drivers– Graduated driver licensing

systems– Random breath testing / police

check points– Alcohol interlocks– Swift and strict penalties– Interventions for problem

drinkers– Restricting sales, increasing

taxation

• What is LESS USEFUL– Education without legislation

(billboards!)– Buddy programmes– Alcohol server programmes – Self-testing– School instruction

NGOs should lobby for what works

A word on education alone

• Education alone is not a good investment of money– Teaching children to cross the road − important skill −

doesn’t prevent injuries − may increase exposure– School-based driver education − Ineffective − Leads to

earlier licensing − increased crash risk– No evidence for defensive driving training– Mass media must be focused– Plays, road shows − sensitize

Education is an important tool to shift social norms towards safer behaviour on the road, but is not a stand-alone road

safety intervention

Advocating for what works

• Law and enforcement of child restraints / seat-belts– Appropriate for child's

age/size– Loan schemes for poorer

families• Bicycle/motorcycle helmets

– Law and enforcement– Helmet standards

• Separating road users• Increasing visibility• Reducing speed around

schools, play areas• Safer vehicles

NGOs should lobby for infrastructural changes that

focus on high risk groups and work with the local

community to implement proven interventions

Victim support

• Pre-hospital care– Bystander training– Access number

• Acute care − staff − training − equipment

• Rehabilitation − access• Victim services

– Legal support, justice– Family support groups

• Advocacy events– WORLD DAY OF

REMEMBRANCE– National events

NGO victim groups are best placed to support other

survivors and their families, lobby for post crash services and raise

awareness through majoradvocacy events

Be the change that you want to see in the world.

Mohandas Gandhi

http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_traffic