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.

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.

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.