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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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ies/
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Fatalities/100,000 persons
Road safety should be addressed using a “systems approach”
Infrastructure
Vehicle Road user
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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