Safety measures can cut road deaths – and here’s the proof

Johns Hopkins report using iRAP methodology shows 700,000 fatalities prevented
By David Arminas May 14, 2024 Read time: 2 mins
Paper says that, by 2044, existing road treatments will prevent almost 3.2 million fatalities and serious injuries - helping to avoid scenes such as this (© Nebasin | Dreamstime.com)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says road traffic crashes cause 1.19 million deaths and millions more injuries every year.

But changes to road infrastructure and implementing safer vehicle speeds have prevented almost 700,000 deaths and serious injuries in 74 countries, according to a new report.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University in the US used the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) methodology to assess the success of road safety projects.

Statistical estimation of fatal and serious injuries saved by iRAP protocols in 74 countries modelled the year-by-year impact of the changes over the last eight years and estimates the likely impact of road improvements in 1,039 infrastructure projects - from England and Australia to India and Colombia - where the iRAP methodology and tools were used. It shows the application of the iRAP model will have prevented an estimated 699,768 deaths and serious injuries between January 2016 and the end of 2024.

Further, the paper projects that, by 2044, the existing road treatments will prevent almost 3.2 million fatalities and serious injuries, given the average effective lifespan of 20 years.

The iRAP Star Rating Methodology provides an objective measure of road safety levels built into the road for vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians. It presents an evidence-based measure of the likelihood of a crash occurring and its severity. A 1-star-rated road is the least safe while a 5-star road is the safest.

Globally, road deaths and injuries have declined for the first time on record, according to the latest data from WHO, which identified improving standards of roads as an important factor. The Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 set targets for most journeys to be made on 3-star or better roads by 2030 and all new roads to be built to those standards.

“The Safe System approach emphasises safe road infrastructure as an essential component of its framework, said Abdulgafoor Bachani, report co-author and director of Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit. 

“Consequently, prioritising its integration into urban planning and development initiatives should become imperative in every city, country and region. We are optimistic that this study will serve to amplify the importance of safe infrastructure and inject renewed vigour into global road safety efforts.”

Enforcement Classification & Data Collection

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Confusing funding and financing can be costly
    September 23, 2014
    Tolling may be the way forward for paying for the roads of the future - but where will concessionaires find the money and do they need funding or financing? Increasingly, governments around the world are concluding that they can no longer pay for new roads and are turning to the private sector for help.
    Read More
  • Digital Transformation is the way to comprehensive transportation 
    March 31, 2021
    Transportation worldwide needs to keep up with a variety of challenges: Frederic Giron of Forrester Consulting explains how digital technologies will be the key to making the necessary changes...
    Read More
  • More public transit can cut city traffic deaths by 40%, says study
    September 4, 2018
    US regions with higher public transportation use can cut traffic fatality rates by 10-40%, according to a new figures from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). APTA analysis of recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Transit Administration data shows that metropolitan areas with public transit use of more than 40 annual trips per capita have up to 40% of the traffic fatality rate of metro areas with fewer than 20 annual trips per capita. APTA and the Vision
    Read More
  • Lowest ever number of road deaths recorded in France
    May 17, 2012
    For the first time ever, the number of road deaths in France fell under the threshold of 4,000 in 2010, a 6.5 per cent drop year on year, the Interior ministry announced yesterday. According to provisional data from the road safety department, 3,994 people were killed in road accidents in 2010, the equivalent of almost 300 lives saved on 2009. After years of decline, road deaths reached 4,273 in 2009. Road injuries in 2010 also recorded a sharp fall, down by 13.1 per cent.
    Read More

Highlighted Content