Mainstreaming road safety in national development and transport planning processes in Africa

Abstract

The present policy paper is focused on road traffic injury as a mobility and development problem, in the context of national development and transport planning processes. Specific road safety programmes are at greater risk of failure if they are not being developed and implemented within mobility and development frameworks that: (a) Recognize the scale of the problem; (b) Value the social and economic benefits of tackling the problem; (c) Approach the problem in a systematic manner with the community. The present paper sets out the reasons for which road safety should be mainstreamed within national development and transport planning processes and provides guidance on the achievement of that goal. Mainstreaming road safety into national transport and development policies and plans is expected to support the preparation and implementation of well-designed and targeted national road safety strategies and action plans, and improved road safety results.