Citation

OCED International Traffic Safety Data and Analysis Group. OCED International Transport Forum, 2018

Affiliation

International Traffic Safety Data and Analysis Group

Copyright

(Copyright 2018)

The full document is available online.

Abstract

Most member countries of IRTAD have experienced a downward trend in the number of road deaths since the beginning of the decade. This is good news. However, much of that progress has happened at the beginning of the decade. In 2015 and 2016 the number of road deaths plateaued or even increased in several countries. Nations that demonstrated a greater than 10% increase in road deaths were: UNitd States, Jamaica, and Colombia. Provisional data for 2017 shows encouraging signs again, but based on data from the last three years it is uncertain whether the overall downward trend will continue. Reducing the number of road casualties requires continuous action based on the analysis of good quality road safety data. In a number of countries, the easy-to-implement measures are now in place. To further reduce the number of road deaths and serious injuries, more data must be put to use: for instance on the circumstances of crashes, on the mechanisms leading to crashes and determining their severity as well as on the road users involved. Data is also needed for proactive risk assessments of the road network. Setting realistic but ambitious targets is important - not only for reduction of road deaths and serious injuries, but for a whole set of safety performance indicators which form the basis of effective road safety policy. Putting data to work for better road safety policies is at the heart of the IRTAD Group's work. We are striving to improve knowledge about road safety and offer countries a unique forum to exchange on methodologies to collect and analyse road safety data. This report is the fruit of a rich collaborative effort of all IRTAD members throughout the past year. The IRTAD Group now counts 80 members and observers representing 41 countries ...