World Bank Directorate of transport and ICT has revealed that on a yearly basis, about 1.3 million people lose their lives on the world’s roads while another 20-50 million are injured with an estimated cost of $500 billion to the world.
Besides, more than 90 per cent of fatalities occur in low and middle income countries (LMICs), although they are home to only 54 per cent of the world’s vehicles. Road traffic crashes are also the number one cause of death among young people.
The World Bank-hosted Global Road Safety Facility (GRSF) has just received the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award, the highest international award for promoting effective road safety management practices in LMICs.
Through funding, knowledge, and technical assistance, the GRSF is helping countries make their roads safer not only for vehicle users but for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists.
Presenting the award, HRH Prince Michael said: “The Global Road Safety Facility has been behind many of the most successful programmes in the developing world and has set a fine example of what international institutions can do to reduce the number of road deaths.”
José Luis Irigoyen, World Bank Senior Director for Transport and ICT said “World Bank is very pleased that the Global Road Safety Facility has been recognized for helping low and middle income countries improve their road safety management practices.”
“Safe mobility is a hallmark of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the GRSF is actively working with governments and partners on sustainable solutions that save lives. This would not have been possible without the strong support of our donor partners, and in particular UK Aid, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the FIA Foundation,” he added.
The GRSF was selected for its impressive track record of implementing successful interventions that closely integrate the different aspects of road safety management, from road and vehicle safety standards to crash data analysis, roadway design, and police enforcement.
Already, every $1 in grant funding that the GRSF has endowed has generated on average $39 worth of direct road safety commitments.
The GRSF has also helped lead the global debate on the advancement of the road safety targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, which call for halving the number of road traffic deaths by 2020, as well as in the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020).
Both international milestones have been supported by Prince Michael of Kent himself.
The Prince Michael Awards are presented each year to those who demonstrate outstanding sustainable and innovative international road safety initiatives. The award ceremony brings together approximately 400 international road safety delegates and industry leaders, including the British road safety minister.
