February 2020: iRAP helped the team of Roads Department of Georgia to conduct safety assessment of 500km road network in the Mtskheta – Mtianiti region.

This, being a pilot iRAP safety assessment in Georgia, helped to build the capacity within Roads Department to conduct such systematic assessment and identify treatments to improve safety of all road users and save lives.

A workshop with stakeholders including the local consultants, road construction companies and Roads Department was conducted in February to share the findings and recommendations to make the pilot road network 3-star or better.

As a next step, the team of Roads Department will assist the implementing authority to design and build road safety countermeasures on the assessed road network. The team is also expected to carry out Star Ratings and Safer Roads Investment Plan for more roads in other regions of Georgia this year.

According to iRAP’s Big Data tool , the number of estimated fatalities in Georgia per year is 599 (WHO 2015) and costs of road injuries every year is US $566 million. Achieving >75% of travel on 3-star or better roads for all road users in Georgia by 2030 stands to save 44,602 lives and serious injuries each year with an economic benefit of USD$3.468 billion.

How many in your country? Visit Vaccinesforroads.org to find out more.