The road traffic-related deaths and injuries have unparalleled health and socio-economic implications on society, as a whole. A staggering 1.35 million people die on the world’s roads every single year and up to 50 million more are left injured or disabled. Globally, over 500 children under the age of 18 are killed on the road each day. These numbers make road traffic injuries one of the leading causes of death worldwide and that among the most economically active citizens – those between the ages of 15 and 29.
UNITAR’s Road Safety Initiative aims to support governments to help them reach the Global Road Safety Performance Targets and advance towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 3.6 - “Reduce by half road traffic deaths and injuries by 2020”.
The Road Safety Initiative includes 3 components:
- Capacity building
- Public awareness
- Partnerships
Road Safety Global Training Initiative Brochure
For more information on the Road Safety Global Training Initiative, please download our catalogue here:
Capacity Building
VR Training
As virtual reality is reshaping the way knowledge is transmitted, UNITAR aims to overcome the barriers of distance-training by offering new technologies that recreate realistic road safety scenarios and enable an immersive, sensory learning experience. Virtual reality allows the user to get a feeling of interacting with a live and real environment, through the use of 3D images, 360º videos, and audiovisual interactivity.
Online Training
UNITAR’s High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) Training Programme aims to strengthen the capacities of law enforcement officers in countries around the world to implement innovative interventions that reduce the number of road traffic injuries and fatalities related to drivers using alcohol.
The online component of the HVE Training Programme brings the expertise and experiences gathered in the field to be used widely amongst government officials responsible for road safety and law enforcement, serving as a tool to adapt and apply the HVE approach in their respective contexts.
Micro-learning Courses
Through the Educate All initiative, UNITAR aims to increase access to education on critical topics such as road safety, risk factors causing road traffic deaths and injuries, as well as post-crash and emergency response techniques.
Mobile Apps
As mobile apps become a significant part of learning delivery, UNITAR’s Road Safety Global Training Initiative aims to provide training aboutpractical solutions and results-based interventions in a flexible way, allowing users to learn from anywhere and anytime, with the advantage of being able to go through the learning content even when they are offline.
Learn more about our mobile apps.
Management Practices for Safer Roads Toolkit
This Toolkit is an interactive e-learning tool that presents a management methodology that can help improve road safety by:
- Collecting data on the number and location of deaths by road user type
- Identifying hazardous and critical road locations and sections where excessive numbers or severity of crashes occur
- Outlining corrective measures
- Implementing interventions and monitoring results
To access useful material related to the Management Practices for Safer Roads Toolkit, please click here.
Child Road Safety Education
Bringing the expertise and best practices from different partners, UNITAR offers training and learning opportunities for public officials and legislators on the implementation of comprehensive programmes that promote the use of child restraint systems, in order to save the lives of the most vulnerable. For media and journalists on road safety and social communication. For parents and grandparents on the proper use of child restraint systems and seat belts.
The overall goal of UNITAR’s activities in this area is to contribute to advance Global Road Safety Performance Target 8: By 2030, increase the proportion of motor vehicle occupants using safety belts or standard child restraint systems to close to 100%.
Study visits
Study visits allow participants to dive into successful road safety programmes implemented by other countries and to understand strategies, as well as instruments of other countries, while facilitating linkages with academia, industry and government. Study visits also contribute to establish long-term global partnerships to accelerate collaboration and interventions that improve road safety.
Simulation-based Learning
For first responders on post-crash response core elements. Simulations aim to enhance the capacities of first responders on post-crash response core elements such as emergency care and rescue (extrication) techniques that apply to children at the scene of a crash.
Read more about our simulation based-learning activities
Executive Education
Designed for working professionals at mid-career to senior career level who have or aspire to have leadership positions in government entities, international organizations, NGOs, as well as in the private sector.
Our courses aim to build leadership and management capacity to design, advocate for, and implement effective road safety programs and policies.
To learn more, please click here.
For more information, contact: roadsafety@unitar.org
Face-to-Face Workshops
UNITAR, in collaboration with its CIFAL Global Network, offers face-to-face and online training opportunities aimed at enhancing the capacity of government authorities, law enforcement officers and key stakeholders on road safety management and leadership.
Changing road users’ behavior on key risk factors for road traffic injuries (speeding, drunk–driving, distracted driving, and the failure to use helmets, seat belts and child restraints properly or at all) is a key component for improving road safety. UNITAR’s training activities aim to help identify and implement strategies that improve road user behavior and increase awareness of such risk factors.
Public awareness
Stand Up for Road Safety Emoji Campaign
UNITAR is pleased to present the Emoji Campaign “Stand Up for Road Safety” developed with the support of BP and the Royal Automobile Club of Spain (RACE) to promote respect of traffic rules and good road safety behavior by all road users.
Learn more about the Campaign, please click here.
Youth engagement
Changing Youth and road users’ behavior on key risk factors for road traffic injuries (speeding, drunk–driving, failure to use helmets, seat belts and child restraints properly or at all) is a key component for improving road safety.
UNITAR, together with CIFAL Centres and in collaboration with academic institutions, NGOS, and the private sector, hosts educational programmes and delivers campaigns to raise awareness among youth about the importance of adopting a respectful traffic culture in order to prevent and reduce traffic incidents.
Conferences
Conferences follow a multi-stakeholder approach, bringing together government authorities, businesses, academic institutions, international organizations, road safety experts, and law enforcement agencies to exchange knowledge and innovative solutions to reduce road traffic fatalities, while fostering understanding and collaboration.
Partnerships
Partnership for Action on Road Safety
Facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration is essential. This initiative seeks to mobilize public-private sector collaboration to implement local demonstration projects that help cities reduce deaths and injuries caused by traffic crashes.
Learning and partnership platform:
The Road Safety Learning and Partnership Platform 'RS:Learn' aims to support knowledge sharing, promote the development of learning materials and encourage interventions through collaboration. At the national level, it seeks to support targeted countries in developing and implementing road safety interventions.