Road safety terms

Drink-driving

WHO recommends a Blood-Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of less than or equal to 0.05 g/dl. A lower limit of less than or equal to 0.02 g/dl for young and novice drivers. Drinking alcohol that exceeds this limit increases the chances of road traffic crash.

Speed

Speed has been identified as a key risk factor in road traffic injuries, influencing both the risk of a road crash as well as the severity of the injuries that result from crashes. Excess speed is defined as exceeding the speed limit while inappropriate speed is driving at a speed unsuitable for the prevailing road and traffic conditions.

In high-income countries, speed contributes to about 30 percent of deaths on the road, while in some low-income and middle-income countries, speed is estimated to be the main contributory factor in about half of all road crashes.

Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020

The UN Road Safety Collaboration developed a Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 to provides a framework for activities to take place in the context of the Decade. The activities include:

• building road safety management capacity
• improving safety of road infrastructure and broader transport networks
• developing the safety of vehicles
• enhancing road users behaviour

SDGs and road safety

Road safety targets are now included in the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by UN member states in New York.

Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages:

3.6. By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents

Another road safety related goal is:

Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable:

11.2. By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons.