Road Safety: Introduction
‘Road Safety is no accident’ – the slogan of the 2007 United Nations Road Safety Week describes the problem of road safety well. Along these lines, the International Road Federation is very involved in disseminating knowledge and best practice about road safety and advocacy. Each year, more than 1.17 million people die in road crashes around the world and more than 10 million are crippled or severely injured. In 1990, the World Health Organisation identified traffic injuries as the ninth most important health problem. By 2020, it is thought that traffic injuries will become the third most important health problem. Furthermore, these accidents cost typically between 1 percent and 3 percent of a country's annual Gross National Product (GNP). These costs are both unacceptable and unaffordable.
Reducing road accident fatalities call for long term actions. It is felt that these should effect a safe road transport system by providing all users with maximum protection against human error. True, positive support to the users (such as information, education and training) and negative support (such as penalties) can make a significant contribution to road safety. Such passive measures will, however, never be sufficient. Pro-active road safety measures are needed, supported by appropriate level of funding, and designed to improve the infrastructure and make it more forgiving of human error. Major changes must be made to the road infrastructure in addition to an improved level of road maintenance. Furthermore, installing and upgrading road equipment such as safety barriers and obstacle protection, markings, signs, signals and lighting make a vital contribution to a reduction in road accidents and the unacceptable burden they impose on society. To achieve this, appropriate road safety policy should be implemented. This should be built around the following key points: commitment, dedicated funding, sustainability, supportive measures, cross border standardization, partnerships and dissemination of know-how.
