A Path to Road Safety: The Road User is Central

Sipho G. KhumaloCross-Border Road Transport Agency

South Africa

March 2013

1. Introduction: Magnitude of the Challenge2. Decade of Action for Road Safety: 2011-20203. A Safe System Philosophical Approach4. Goal and Specific Objectives5. The Five Pillars6. Safer Road Users7. Concluding Remarks

OUTLINE OF THE PRSENTATION

March 2013

Each year, traffic crashes kill more than 1.2m people and injure up to 50 million.

They are the leading cause of death among people 15 to 29 years old and cost the global economy around $518 billion.

90% of road casualties in the world, occur in developing countries, yet only less than half the world’s registered vehicle fleety every made, are found in such countries.

The chance of dying in a traffic crash is almost ten times higher in RSA that it is in the UK.

The problem is gradually becoming worse and the total number of annual fatal crashes are expected to approach 2 million by 2020.

Introduction: Magnitude of the Problem

March 2013

UN initiative aimed at reversing the trend: the initiative seeks to halve the number of deaths from the current levels by 2020.

The global plan serves as a tool to support the development of national and local plans of action, while simultaneously providing a framework to allow coordinated activities at regional and global levels.

Experience suggests that road traffic injuries can be prevented. An adequately funded lead agency and a national plan with measurable targets are crucial components.

Public awareness campaigns also play an important role in supporting the enforcement of legislative measures - awareness of risks and of the penalties associated with breaking the law.

Decade of Action for Road Safety: 2011-2020

March 2013

A Safe System Philosophical Approach The ‘safe system’ approach – embracing road safety as a quality of life concept

and developing a road transport system that is better able to accommodate human error and take into consideration the vulnerability of the human body.

It starts from the acceptance of human limitations/error and thus the realisation that traffic crashes cannot be completely avoided. The goal of the a safe system is to ensure that accidents do not result in serious human injury.

In terms of this approach, the road-user and his/her human limitations are primary – what the human body can stand in terms of kinetic energy – is an important basis upon which to design the raod transport system.

The development of the road environment and the vehicle must be harmonised on the basis of these human limitations. Road users, vehicles and the road network/environment are addressed in an integrated manner, through a wide range of interventions, with greater attention to speed management and vehicle and road design than in traditional approaches to road safety.

March 2013

A Safe System Philosophical Approach (2) This approach means shifting a major share of the responsibility from

road users to those who design the road transport system. System designers include primarily road managers, the automotive

industry, police, politicians and legislative bodies. The responsibility is also extended to secondary players, such as health service providers, the judicial system and schools.

This approach encourages approaching the task of improving the road transport system as a collective effort that involves the NGOs, civil society, the private sector, the clergy, and other societal groupings.

The road user is not absolved of the responsibility to abide by road traffic laws and regulations, but this approach recognises that even if he/she abides by all laws and regulations, he/she is prone to err, has limitations and that the complexity of the driving task can easily overwhelm the driver!

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Overall goal: to stabilise and then reduce the forecast level of road traffic fatalities around the world by 2020.

Supporting objectives: Implementing the UN road safety related agreements and conventions Developing and implementing sustainable road safety strategies and programmes Stting an ambitious yet feasible target for reduction of road fatalities by 2020 by

building on the existing frameworks of regional casualty targets Strengthening the management infrastructure and capacity for technical

implementation of road safety activities Improving quality of data collection at the national, regional and global levels Monitoring progress and performance on a number of predetermined indicators Encouraging increased funding to road safety and better use of existing resources Building capacities at national, regional and international levels

Goal and Specific Objectives

March 2013

The Five Pillars

Safe Road Users Safer Vehicles

Safer Roads and Mobility

Post-crash Response

Road Safety Management

March 2013

Increase awareness of road safety risk factors and prevention measures and implement social marketing campaigns to help influence attitudes and opinions on the need for road safety

Set and seek compliance with speed limits and evidence-based standards and rules to reduce speed-related crashes and injuries

…with drink-driving laws……with laws governing the use of helmets to reduce head

injuries…with laws and evidence-based standards and rules for seat-

beltand child restraints to reduce crash injuries

Safer road users

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Set and seek compliance with transport, occupational health and safety laws, standards and rules for safet operation of commercial freight and transport vehicles, passenger road transport services and other public and private vehicle fleetsto reduce crash injuries

Research, develop and promote comprehensive policies and practices to reduce work-related road traffic injuries in the public, private and informal sectors

Promote establishment of Graduated Driver Licensing systems for novice drivers

Safer road users (2)

March 2013

Chain of responsibility approach

Concluding Remarks

i thank you