Mexico City, May 17, 2024.- A recent study by Johns Hopkins University in collaboration with the International Road Assessment Program (iRAP) reveals that road safety initiatives have saved nearly 700,000 lives and prevented serious injuries since 2016 in 74 countries.
Published in the prestigious journal PLOS One, which disseminates science- and medicine-related research, it details how iRAP methodologies have improved safety in 1,039 road infrastructure projects.
iRAP Methodology and Key Results
The iRAP methodology rates roads from 1 to 5 stars, with 5 being the safest. The study models year-by-year impacts of these ratings, estimating a total of 699,768 lives saved and serious injuries avoided through the end of 2024.
By 2044, these improvements are projected to prevent nearly 3.2 million fatalities and serious injuries.
The Johns Hopkins University report highlights specific examples of iRAP’s successful application of the methodology:
- In Karnataka, India, fatalities were reduced by 54% and injuries by 42% over a 62 km stretch.
- In Victoria, Australia, there is a 77% decrease in fatalities and hospital days decreased by 74% on 1,730 km of road.
- In Thailand, no fatalities were reported and injuries were reduced by 89% on a specific segment.
- In Shaanxi, China, fatalities and injuries were reduced by 33% and 53%, respectively, on 850 km of roads.
Reactions and the Future of Road Safety
Rob McInerney, iRAP Executive Director, expressed his gratitude to the global partners who have implemented these methodologies, highlighting the tangible impact on road safety.
Abdulgafoor M. Bachani of Johns Hopkins University highlighted the importance of integrating road safety into urban and development planning.
The World Health Organization indicates that, for the first time in history, road fatalities and injuries are decreasing thanks to improvements such as those described in the report.
The global target is that by 2030, the majority of journeys will be made on roads with at least 3-star ratings.
This analysis underscores the need for continued and increased investment in safe road infrastructure to achieve global road safety goals.
The impact of iRAP projects not only saves lives but also sets a safety standard that can sustain future reductions in road fatality and injury rates around the world.
In 2022, iRAP and Aleatica Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding, strengthening their collaboration through training programs and the application of the iRAP methodology to assess and improve Aleatica‘s roads.
All Aleatica‘s concessioned roads are aligned with the United Nations global standard that aims for all roads to achieve a rating of 3 or more stars.
