AND LOOKING AHEAD

74

1.35

million deaths each year

countries have road

123

traffic laws that meet best practice for at least one of the key behavioural risk factors of pedestrian travel is on

88%

1- or 2-star roads

countries have

40

implemented 7 or 8 of the priority UN vehicle safety standards countries have a telephone

109

number with national coverage to activate the emergency care system

• The Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 has led to a remarkable increase in global attention, investments and efforts to reduce deaths and injuries on the world’s roads.

• While progress has been made by countries in stre the i r d tr fic s i pr i the s et of roads and vehicles, and enhancing post-crash care, the u er r d tr fic de ths d i uries re i s unacceptably high.

• The progress that has been achieved has not occurred at a pace fast enough to achieve the SDG target 3.6 to reduce r d tr fic de ths

• Above all, accelerating progress will require increased political will and commitment at the highest level of government.

Key messages

76

Summary of progress to date

The number of road traffic deaths continues to climb, reaching 1.35 million in 2016, while the rate of death relative to the size of the world’s population has stabilized in recent years. The progress that has been achieved has not occurred at a pace fast enough to compensate for the rising population and rapid motorization of transport taking place in many parts of the world. At this rate, the SDG target 3.6 to halve road traffic deaths by 2020 will not be met. This review of key risk factors does show, however, that progress is being made in improving key road safety laws, infrastructure, adoption of vehicles standards and improving access to the post-crash care.

As countries work over time to create sustainably safe environments

for road use through improved planning, design, operation and

investment in the safety quality of roads, vehicles and post-crash

care, the combined publicity and enforcement of key safety legislation

CONCLUSION

77

GLOBAL STATUS REPORT ON ROAD SAFETY 2018

presents opportunities to achieve immediate and substantial road safety results. The review has found that the progress has been made across countries to bring laws into line with best practice with te dditi c u tries i t t i i ith est pr ctices

ddressi dri dri i fi e dditi c u tries i t t aligning with best practices on motorcycle helmet use, four additional c u tries i t t i i ith est pr ctices the use chi d restr i t s ste s d three dditi c u tries i t t aligning with best practices on the use of seat-belts. The number of countries with laws in line with best practices for speed management h s t ch ed i t t s resu t these i ter e ti s

dditi e i i pe p e re c ered r d tr fic s that meet best practice.

Progress is evident in the planning, design and operation of roads and roadsides, addressing high-risk sections and areas and in the take-up of a range of tools. Vehicle safety measures continue to e su st ti d e ficie t c tri uti t reduci de th d serious injuries amongst car occupants. Despite the fact that only 40 countries have implemented seven or eight of the priority UN vehicle safety standards, there are signs of progress with countries such as di pr duci its first ur st r ehic e here re s si s th t access to post-crash care is improving.

here h s s ee si ific t pr ress i d ci the

road safety agenda. The Decade of Action has led to a remarkable increase in global attention, investments, and efforts to reduce deaths and injuries on the world’s roads. The increased recognition and political support for road safety have fostered an enabling e ir e t r t r eted cti s d re e e p ified se er important developments. Examples of these include:

´

SDG targets 3.6 and 11.2 addressing road safety;

The Decade of

Action has led

to an increase in

global attention,

investments, and

efforts to reduce

deaths and

injuries on roads.

78

´

12 voluntary global road safety performance targets in support of the SDGs and new linkages between road safety and other public health and societal goals;

´

United Nations Road Safety Trust Fund to catalyse investments in road safety in countries;

´

re i d t ser t ries t ci it te etter rep rti r d tr fic deaths; and

´

networks of legislators in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean to facilitate the implementation of road safety legislation that meet best practice.

These outcomes are not directly captured by this report, but they contribute i critic s t stre the i the fie d ith the i est e ts

er e ts fi ciers d pri te u d ti s the h e id the u d ti for future efforts and are indicative of the momentum generated in recent years.

Remaining challenges

The results presented in this report, and the developments highlighted above i dic te si ific t es r rd h e ee de r d s et er the past decade. Further progress will depend upon future success in addressing the r e si ific t ch e es hich re i

Increasing political will

Despite a better understanding of the problem and its solutions, political will to carry out the necessary actions is often lacking. Too many countries still lack funded strategies, lead agencies and good laws that are enforced.

Ensuring accountability

Improving the safety of roads requires clear responsibility and accountability that cuts across sectors. Those who plan, design, operate and use the road system share responsibility for creating a road system in which crashes do

Investments of

government,

financiers

and private

foundations,

have laid the

foundation for

future efforts.

79

GLOBAL STATUS REPORT ON ROAD SAFETY 2018 CONCLUSION

not result in death or serious injury. This responsibility is shared across government, business, media and civil society, requiring alignment with a range of societal goals, careful governmental leadership and an effective safety performance framework. However, there needs to be clear responsibility for progress on the system as well as for each component. The establishment of lead agencies with appropriate capacity and related multisectoral coordination arrangements amongst the responsible agencies are a prerequisite for effective action.

Strengthening data collection

Robust data are a critical component for the attainment of any future target. Without the ability to assess progress and the effectiveness of efforts to reduce fatalities and injuries, countries will not be able to identify gaps in the system and deliver tailored improvements. As a result of the differences in definitions, reporting, and coding practices adopted by health, police, and insurance, the individual sources of data often provide an incomplete view of the actual situation.

Building capacity

Many countries are still struggling to establish capacity for sustainable safety management and the leadership, coordination and funding arrangements, which underpin better performance. Silo approaches to intervention persist and while there are examples of multisectoral activity and shared responsibility, these are atypical.

Looking Ahead

While many key elements of the road safety response are now well

articulated, there is a failure of implementation and scale of response

in most countries. Current action is insufficient to meet the targets

and a large burden of unnecessary death and injury, particularly

to the young, will remain without a change in political will, clear

responsibilities and accountability, good data and capacity to act.

80

Experience shows that sustained gains in road safety only happen when a more integrated approach is taken. Going forward, it will be important to learn from experiences to date and address the factors noted above that hinder success. There is an urgent need for governments to scale up their road safety efforts in order to live up to their commitments made in the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.

The upcoming Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Sweden in February 2020 will be

a key opportunity to take a strategic view and set a road safety agenda for the next decade, including

by setting a new global target on fatalities.

81

GLOBAL STATUS REPORT ON ROAD SAFETY 2018 CONCLUSION