EASST’s Dmitry Sambuk commented, “Aligning national road design standards with global best practices is not just a technical necessity—it is a policy priority if we are to achieve Global UN Decade of Action goals. This training series represents an important step towards embedding the Safe System approach into infrastructure planning across Central Asia, ensuring that the safety element is no longer an afterthought but a foundation for any new transport project in the region.”

The training marked a milestone moment in our collaboration with UNESCAP to update and improve local road design standards for safer and more inclusive roads across the region, with support from the UN Road Safety Fund. During the training, engineering consultants Paul Disney and Philip Jordan presented the new proposed guidance aimed at updating the existing national (GOST-SNiP) design standards, which will be launched later this year.

Participants’ self-reflected survey responses demonstrated an increased knowledge of road safety design principles a result of the training with feedback reflecting on the practical value of the sessions and looking forward to what’s to come next:

Dilovar Hikmatov, Ministry of Transport, Tajikistan said, “The webinars focused primarily on road safety and inclusivity in road design. These aspects play a key role at the feasibility study stage, as they are directly linked to reducing the risk of injuries and fatalities. Effective safety approaches were discussed, including proper design of curves, road shoulders, and minimising excessive measures such as an overuse of signs. The importance of striking a balance between safety and budget was emphasised. Such meetings provide valuable insights and are especially beneficial if more students and professionals from relevant organisations are involved. Thank you for the opportunity to participate.”

Nikolay Svirchevsky, Ministry of Transport, Kyrgyzstan said, “Participating in the series of webinars on engineering solutions for road safety was a highly informative experience for me. One of the most important takeaways was the comprehensive approach to road infrastructure design. Another key point was the emphasis on integrating road safety considerations at the earliest stages of the design process. It was also both useful and interesting to learn about the iRAP methodology and the star rating system for design solutions. The knowledge and ideas I gained have inspired me to further explore the field of road safety.”

The final phase of the project will involve integrating the results of the GOST-SNiP reviews and proposed updates into a draft regional standard for the whole CAREC region– 11 countries make up the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation – that aligns with the Global Road Safety Targets and international best practices for safe road design. This is due to launch in June 2025.

Read more on the Safe and Inclusive Road Designs in Central Asia Project here.

Article credit: EASST. Images credit: IRF.