Promoting Global Road Safety

GRSF provides funding, knowledge, and technical assistance designed to scale-up the efforts of low- and middle-income countries to build their scientific, technological managerial and delivery capacities for road safety.

Our Programs   Our Impact

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Example
  • 1.35 million

    people lose their lives in the world’s roads and up to another 50 million are injured

  • 84

    countries has received funding, knowledge and technical assistance by GRSF

  • 74 million

    of donor pledges received since 2006, in addition to unquantified support from the World Bank in its hosting capacity

  • 10,500

    lives saved through GRSF Grants and World Bank loans since 2016

Road Safety Country Profiles

The Road Safety Country Profiles gives a precise assessment on the magnitude and complexity of road safety challenges faced by low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) and helps policy makers understand the road safety framework in context of their own country systems and performance.

This road safety country data presents information on all pillars of road safety (management, roads, speed, vehicles, road users, and post-crash care), along with information on the current status for each country and region along with extensive information on key risk factors, issues and opportunities.

Speed Management Hub

Under the new BIGRS Program 2020-2025, GRSF is the host of the Speed Management Hub. In this platform, the GRSF team provides evidence-based road safety knowledge to help manage speed through infrastructure interventions, effective enforcement, targeted awareness measures, and vehicle technology.

Visit the Hub NEW: FAQs

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Example of 30 km/h residential zone in Korea. (Source: KOTI)

Impact & Learning

  • article

    GRSF Publishes Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024

    November 13, 2024

    GRSF has released its annual report for fiscal year 2024 ("FY24"), showcasing significant strides in its mission to support low and middle-income countries to halve their road traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

    In FY24which covers the period from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024the World Bank approved $2.98 billion in new lending for road and urban transport projects in LMICs. Notably, $315 million of this amount (10.6%) was allocated specifically to road safety, which was catalyzed and informed by GRSF.

    To help achieve this outcome, GRSF approved $2.5 million in grant funding for 18 new activities in FY24, bringing its active portfolio to $6.9 million across 50 activities and 26 countries.

    During FY24, GRSF achieved the following results:

    annual report infographic

     

    FY24 also marked critical structural transformations within GRSF, designed to amplify its impact. In alignment with the World Bank Group’s trust fund reform agenda, GRSF transitioned to an Umbrella Trust Fund structure at the beginning of 2024, which will help consolidate and streamline its functions and activities.

    Coinciding with this change, GRSF launched a new business plan for the period FY24-27, outlining a new strategy with measurable results around three pillars of action and four cross-cutting themes. Moreover, GRSF has become a standalone unit of the World Bank Transport Global Department as of July 2024, enhancing its capacity to deliver road safety solutions and boost financing over the long term.

    Another milestone in FY24 was the creation of the Hart Schafer Road Safety Award, which recognizes excellence in road safety financing and innovation by World Bank teams and government counterparts. The inaugural award, which is managed by GRSF, was presented to the Bangladesh Road Safety Project in early 2024, acknowledging its role in improving road safety in South Asia.

    Reflecting on the FY24 annual report, GRSF Program Manager Said Dahdah commented “We are nearly halfway through the UN’s Second Decade of Action for Road Safety, and if we are to achieve the goal of halving road traffic fatalities and injuries by 2030, faster progress is urgently needed. Now is the time to realign our focus and significantly increase financing and support for road safety initiatives. As GRSF continues to grow and evolve, we are thankful for continued support on our common journey toward safer roads for all.”

    Related Publications

    GRSF Annual Report
    GRSF Annual Report
    November 2024
  • article

    City of Fortaleza Wins Road Safety Award Based on GRSF Tool

    September 17, 2024

    Brazil's National Traffic Secretariat (SENATRAN) announced this week the winners of the 2024 SENATRAN awards.

    The VIDA Platform, which provides real-time data on road crashes and helps shape life-saving road safety improvements, won in the category of Development of Technological Solutions in the Area of Road Safety Management. The VIDA Platform is based on the GRSF-developed DRIVER system, which was originally supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety.

    The City of Fortaleza’s speed management program, which has reduced speed limits to 50 km/h on key streets and avenues, was implemented using data and evidence from the VIDA platform and took home the award in the Innovative Solutions and Projects Related to Road Infrastructure category.

    This speed management program has been a game-changer—a survey conducted by the Municipal Traffic and Citizenship Authority (AMC) indicates an average reduction of 68.1% in fatal accidents on roads that have had their speed limit reduced to 50 km/h.

    Both initiatives showcase the impact of evidence-based interventions and technological solutions to improve road safety, as well as the impact of GRSF’s work.

    Huge congratulations to the City of Fortaleza and all who contributed to this milestone.

    Banner image credit: Kiko Silva/Prefeitura de Fortaleza

  • article

    GRSF Participates in Safety 2024 Conference

    September 05, 2024

    GRSF participated in the 15th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion (“Safety 2024”) in Delhi on September 2-4, 2024. The conference covered all areas of injury prevention, with road safety being one of the primary themes.

    In particular, GRSF hosted a session titled Disability and Rehabilitation of Road Traffic Injuries, which explored the results and implications of a recently published study in six low and middle-income countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Mexico, Ukraine, and Zambia). The purpose of the study, titled Beyond the Numbers: Estimating the Disability Burden of Road Traffic Injuries, was to estimate traffic injury related disability, identify the key risk factors, and provide recommendations for interventions to improve medical care and rehabilitation. The session further highlighted findings from a recently concluded study by the World Bank focusing on the cost and consequences of road traffic disability and rehabilitation assessed in Namibia and South Africa.

    Both studies highlight the need for a more nuanced understanding of road safety issues in India and beyond. It's not just about preventing deaths—it's about preventing injuries that can alter lives forever. These insights are crucial for informing policies and interventions that can mitigate the broader impacts of road crashes.

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    Above: Infographic showing the key findings from the Beyond the Numbers report

    As a major sponsor, GRSF also had a large booth in the exhibition hall, which provided a fantastic opportunity to present GRSF’s work, showcase World Bank road safety knowledge products, and generally engage with conference participants. Of particular note was a drink driving obstacle course that used alcohol simulation goggles, which was very well received by participants and served as a great engagement tool to spark more substantive conversations about the World Bank’s road safety work.

    Safety 2024 collage

    Above (clockwise from top-left): 1) World Bank Global Disability Lead Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo moderates a GRSF-hosted panel discussion on road crash-induced disability and rehabilitation; 2) World Bank Transport Specialist Sudeshna Mitra presents key findings from the Beyond the Numbers report; 3) conference participants attempt an obstacle course wearing alcohol simulation goggles designed to raise awareness of the dangers of drunk driving at the GRSF booth; 4) World Bank Senior Transport Specialist Dipan Bose leads a discussion about road safety progress and challenges across 7 Indian states.

     

    The conference came at a particularly worrying time for road safety in India, which has become increasingly dire in recent years. While the country experienced a brief respite during the COVID-19 pandemic, with road fatalities dipping as mobility restrictions kept people off the roads, this trend has not only reversed but worsened. According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India recorded 154,732 road crash fatalities in 2019, which fell to 133,201 in 2020. However, by 2022, this figure surged past pre-pandemic levels, reaching over 171,000 deaths—a grim trend that underscores the urgent need for action.

    The importance of such gatherings cannot be overstated. In a world where road safety challenges are multifaceted and often deeply entrenched in societal norms, forging connections across sectors and disciplines is essential. By bringing together a wide array of experts and stakeholders, the conference fostered an environment where innovative ideas could flourish and where the seeds of future road safety initiatives were sown.

    Related Publications

  • article

    World Bank Study Reveals High Incidence and Costs of Road Traffic Injuries in Jordan

    August 05, 2024

    Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a critical public health issue in Jordan, as highlighted in the 2022 Annual Report of Traffic Accidents from the Jordan Public Security Directorate. With 169,409 crashes recorded in 2022, resulting in 562 deaths and 11,510 injuries, RTIs have emerged as the leading cause of death for children and young people, and the second-leading cause for adults aged 20–64.

    This analytical research study aims to understand RTI-induced disabilities in Jordan, identify contributing factors, and assess the associated costs for road traffic crash victims. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research included quantitative and qualitative data collection through hospital-based surveillance and follow-up surveys at one- and three months post-injury. The study involved six public and private hospitals across Jordan. Key informant interviews with stakeholders from various sectors were conducted to gain comprehensive insights.

    The study's findings reveal that most RTI patients were male (79%) with an average age of 34 years. Crashes predominantly occurred during early mornings and night hours, involving mainly cars (72%) and motorcycles/bicycles (40%). A significant number of patients (74%) received prehospital care, primarily from ambulance staff. Most patients (66%) were fully conscious upon arrival at the emergency room.

    Injury analysis showed that 58% of patients had a single injury, with extremities being the most affected area. Financially, 49% of patients incurred immediate costs upon hospital admission, and follow-up care also resulted in out-of-pocket expenses, particularly for physiotherapy and medications.

    The study indicated that 79% of patients experienced some disability at the one-month follow-up, with varying degrees from mild to extreme. By the third month, 73% reported no disability, though 26% continued to experience mild impairments.

    This study underscores the significant burden of RTIs and associated disabilities in Jordan, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to reduce injuries and robust long-term care to support affected individuals.

  • article

    New Dedicated Unit and Initiatives from World Bank Mark Major Advancement in Global Road Safety

    June 10, 2024

    In a landmark move, the World Bank has established a dedicated Road Safety Unit, making it the first multilateral development bank (MDB) to do so. This development underscores the World Bank's unwavering commitment to addressing the global road safety crisis.

    Road crashes result in almost 1.2 million deaths every year and are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29. According to the World Health Organization, 92% of all fatalities occur in low and middle-income countries.

    Nicolas Peltier-Thiberge, the World Bank's Director of Transport, emphasized the significance of the new road safety unit, stating, "Road traffic crashes are preventable tragedies with an unacceptably high toll for developing countries. The World Bank is a big supporter of the global road safety agenda, and we regularly work with client countries to make roads transport safer for all users. The establishment of this new road safety unit demonstrates our dedication to this issue, which we aim to elevate to an even higher priority level."

    “This is a major development in global road safety and comes as we approach the middle of the second UN Decade of Action for Road Safety.”

     

    Said Dahdah, Head of GRSF and Global Lead for Road Safety, World Bank

    The newly created Road Safety Unit is embedded within the Global Transport Department of the World Bank and will house the Global Road Safety Facility (GRSF), a multidonor fund that supports efforts in low and middle-income countries to halve their road traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

    The establishment of the unit marks the fourth major milestone in the World Bank’s increasing commitment to road safety over the past two decades—it follows the establishment of GRSF in 2006, the inclusion of road safety in the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework in 2018, and the adoption of a road safety requirement for all World Bank road and urban transport projects in 2020. “This is a major development in global road safety and comes as we approach the middle of the second UN Decade of Action for Road Safety,” says Said Dahdah, who will manage the new unit and also leads GRSF.

    As part of this strategic shift, the World Bank has also restructured GRSF as an Umbrella Program, a powerful financing instrument designed to catalyze road safety development financing from the World Bank and other MDBs. Over the five-year period between 2018 and 2022, MDBs collectively approved $3.6 billion of new financing for road safety. The restructuring of GRSF aims to amplify country-level investment opportunities, with the aim of doubling collective MDB financing for road safety over the next five years.

    To meet the moment, GRSF has also launched a new Business Plan for fiscal years 2024 through 2027. The business plan organizes GRSF’s work around three pillars of action, and outlines strategic initiatives to catalyze increased financing, foster road safety innovation, and amplify road safety research and knowledge.

    Said Dahdah highlighted the importance of the new strategy, stating, "this new business plan outlines our renewed commitment to work toward the UN goal of halving road traffic fatalities by 2030, and positions GRSF as a key mechanism for boosting much-needed road safety financing in low and middle-income countries. We invite our development partners to visit the new GRSF website to learn more about our new business plan, pillars, and focus areas."

    In another exciting development, the World Bank recently established the Hart Schafer Road Safety Award in honor of Hartwig “Hart” Schafer, a former World Bank leader and passionate advocate for road safety who passed away prematurely in May 2023. The award recognizes excellence in advancing road safety financing and innovation in low and middle-income countries.

    The first Hart Schafer Road Safety Award was presented during the World Bank Transport Learning Forum on April 23, 2024, to the Bangladesh Road Safety Project. This $358 million World Bank-financed project aims to significantly reduce road traffic fatalities in Bangladesh, where road crashes claim over 25,000 lives annually. It is the first stand-alone multi-sectoral road safety project financed by the World Bank in South Asia, and the largest the World Bank has ever approved.

    The award ceremony was attended by World Bank leaders including Axel van Trotsenburg, Senior Managing Director for Development Policy and Partnerships, Guangzhe Chen, Vice-President for Infrastructure, and Martin Raiser, Regional Vice President for South Asia. Axel van Trotsenburg emphasized the importance of multi-sectoral initiatives, stating, "The Bangladesh Road Safety project exemplifies the high-impact operations we aim to advance." Guangzhe Chen added, "Hart dedicated his life to making tangible improvements in the lives of everyday people, which is why we are honoring him and his legacy today."

    In light of these exciting developments, the World Bank and GRSF call on their partners, stakeholders, and the global road safety community to join this journey to save lives in low and middle-income countries. Through concerted action, significant strides can be made in reducing road traffic fatalities and injuries, contributing to safer communities for all. 

     

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