Transforming Transport: Pedestrian Transforming Transport: Pedestrian Safety and Public Transport for Safety and Public Transport for Vulnerable PopulationsVulnerable Populations

Transforming Transport for Vulnerable Road Users: The Needs of Women,

Children and the Elderly

Xochitl Benjamin

Social Development Theme Champion: gTKP

Outline of presentation

• About the global Transport Knowledge Partnership

• Definition of the problem• Scope of the problem

• Actions & policies

• Knowledge gaps

What is gTKP?

• gTKP is a partnership-based approach to the dissemination of transport knowledge which aims to provide developing countries with easy access to the best available knowledge and research.

• We work on knowledge management and dissemination in 7 key areas related to road transport in developing countries

About gTKP: Themes

Cross-cutting theme: -Environment and climate change-Governance-Finance and economics

-Road safety-Rural transport-Road safety

Social Development

About gTKP: Rationale

• Roads and transport have a direct impact on poverty reduction through access to markets, employment and basic services.

• Efficient and safe transport is fundamental to the achievement of the MDG targets.

• International aid and investment alone cannot solve the transport challenge – better use of existing knowledge is key to long-term solutions.

• Substantial knowledge already exists, both explicit and implicit, but it is not always reaching those who need it.

Delivery

• The gTKP has a website and a portfolio of programme and project activities, undertaken by theme champions, partners and management.

• Transport knowledge products include our website, news bulletins, helpdesk, briefing papers, email discussion groups and communities of practice.

• Our themes connect specific communities of users, provide original “gap” research, and roll out evidence-based advisory work and workshops as well as updating of both policy and technical material.

Definition: vulnerable road users

• Someone with little or no external protection, or has reduced task capabilities, or reduced stamina/physical capabilities.

• Women, children, the elderly and the poor tend to make up the majority of this category

Impacts on these groups

• Children: no choice, no voice

• Women: hit from all sides

• Elderly: excluded by design

Road Traffic Deaths Worldwide by Sex and Age Group, 2002

Source: WHO Global Burden of Disease Project, Version 1 (2002).

Narrow concept of impacts

• Safety agenda focused on accidents & victims, does not link these to broader social and political conditions, decisions

A broad understanding of impacts• Pressure on caregivers,

families• Safety and security (e.g.

sexual harassment, violence)• Safety of NMTs/slow-moving

vehicles used by the poor• Village transport infrastructure

(e.g. paths, river crossings, etc.)

• Social connections, linkages and opportunities

The nature and scale of the problems

• Large-scale, underestimated and growing. • Responsibility for safe mobility of VRU mainly

rests with others: VRU cause little danger to others but run serious risks which they often cannot avoid themselves.

• The road safety of VRUs cannot be disassociated from the quality and safety of mobility

• Problems due to road accidents are much more devastating and far-reaching for VRUs than for the ‘average’ road user

Causal factors• Knowledge is poorly documented, particularly

long-term• The traffic and transport systems are not made

for VRU: vehicle design and road design have serious problems

• Behaviour of those causing the problems• Poor management/enforcement/coordination• Lack of political power of VRU

• Breakdown in ‘cost:benefit’ link

Actions and policies

• Emphasize quality and quantity of mobility options for VRU

• Mainstream ‘universal design’ principles• Emphasize linkages between social, public and spatial

environments• Measures to improve safety for VRU cannot be improved

without measures aimed at ‘mainstream’ road users• Understanding of ‘road safety’ must be broad and linked

to clear understanding of the needs and habits of VRU.• VRUs must be part of the decision-making process

Work of gTKP

• Road safety as a discreet & cross-cutting theme (in social development);

• Working with global organisations such as iRAP, GRSP, UN, national governments, AfDB, ADB, WB…

• Developing gTKP knowledge base

• Filling knowledge gaps

Thank you

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