The International Transport Forum – "Zero Road Deaths and Serious Injuries: Leading a Paradigm Shift in Road Safety" Report
In 2014 the International Transport Forum (ITF), the intergovernmental think-tank for transport issues housed at the OECD, ITF brought together 30 road safety experts from 24 governments and several international organisations and NGOs to prepare a new report, ‘Zero Road Deaths and Serious Injuries: Leading a Paradigm Shift in Road Safety’ which was launched on 3rd October 2016 at the OECD Headquarters in Paris.
The report demonstrates how adopting the approach by a handful of countries has resulted in a significant and sustained reduction in road death and trauma. Importantly, the report also highlights how, through practical and affordable action, the Safe System can be relevant for countries and cities at any stage of development.
The ITF report provides an important intellectual underpinning for the growing ‘Vision Zero’ movement in support of the Safe System.
At a time when many high income countries have seen a plateau or increase in their road traffic deaths, and when the global epidemic in middle and low income countries continues to rage, a paradigm shift to the Safe System is essential. This begins with persuading road safety practitioners and policymakers, and their political leaders. The ITF’s work and new report provide both the evidence and the momentum at a critical time.
