International Transport Forum roots for shift in road safety policies

By Road Safety Hub reporter

A report by OECD International Transport Forum is calling for a paradigm shift to reduce traffic deaths and injuries globally.
The report titled Zero Road Deaths and Serious Injuries released on October 3 in Paris, France is advocating for a shift in traditional road safety policy to a safe system.
It states that the safe system would help prevent crashes instead of reactive analysis based on past crashes.
“This paradigm shift involves a move from traditional road safety policies to an integrated view in which road traffic becomes a “safe system” where serious outcomes from crashes are prevented in the first place,” it stated.

"Safe system requires understanding, managing dynamic interaction between operating speeds, vehicles, road infrastructure and road user bevahiour,” the report states.
According to the report, the safe system approach is based on the premise that road crashes are both predictable and preventable, and that it is possible to move towards zero road deaths and serious injuries.
Governments are urged to use Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a guideline to review their road safety policies in the context of a Safe System approach.
The report states that for a paradigm shift to be achieved, players would have to work on having safe roads, strong leadership and commitment to have a safe systems and a shared responsibility on road safety.

editor@roadsafetyhub.com