Blog de Greg Smith, CEO de iRAP
As the world prepares to launch the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035) in support of the SDGs, governments have an opportunity to ensure that the safety of road infrastructure is a priority.
Un sistema de transporte verdaderamente sostenible protege a todos sus usuarios. Para lograrlo, es fundamental garantizar que las calles, carreteras y autopistas tengan una calificación mínima de 3 estrellas (sobre un total de 5) y sean fundamentalmente seguras para todos los medios de transporte, capacidades y trayectos previstos.
Road safety is part of the SDGs (see 3.6 y 11.2) and is a key enabler for a wide range of priorities including economic growth, resilient infrastructure, trade, global supply chains, health promotion, climate action, poverty reduction, and access to education.
More than 3,000 road crash deaths and 100,000 or more injuries occur every day worldwide. Road crashes have severe and lasting consequences, causing immense suffering, economic hardship and poverty for families, and cost some 10 mil millones de dólares a nivel mundial cada día. About un tercio de las muertes están relacionadas con el trabajo, haciendo hincapié en la importancia de la seguridad para el capital humano, la economía y la productividad.
By aligning the Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026-2035) with the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030) y el Safe System Approach, there is an opportunity to create continuity in action and build momentum on safe road infrastructure, integrating safety into all aspects of transport planning.
Objetivos Mundiales de Desempeño en Seguridad Vial 3 y 4 encourage governments to lift roads and designs to 3-stars or better for all road users. For each Star Rating improvement of a road or design, los costos de los choques se reducen aproximadamente a la mitad. Investment projects that have made use of the freely-available iRAP methodology and resources have already prevented hundreds of thousands of deaths and serious injuries.
Adoptar objetivos de clasificación por estrellas e incorporar principios e intervenciones de seguridad basados en la evidencia desde las primeras etapas de la planificación de calles, carreteras, autopistas, sistemas de transporte público y cualquier desarrollo que influya en el movimiento de personas o vehículos en las carreteras, es una forma fiable para que los gobiernos minimicen los costos de implementación y maximicen los beneficios en materia de seguridad.
Medidas como las barreras de seguridad, la reducción de la velocidad del tráfico, los carriles bici, las aceras y los pasos de peatones, el alumbrado público y las mejoras en las intersecciones pueden tener un profundo efecto en la seguridad del entorno vial.
Los entornos viales seguros también fomentan la libertad de elección; cuando las personas perciben que un entorno es seguro, es más probable que se sientan cómodas caminando, andando en bicicleta y utilizando los sistemas de transporte público que serán necesarios para satisfacer de forma segura la creciente demanda de movilidad urbana.
iRAP tools including the Demostrador de calificación por estrellas, Sistema de calificación por estrellas para escuelas (SR4S), CycleRAP are freely-available to support evidenced-based safety planning and decision making. These are increasingly leveraging AI and big data techniques to accelerate safety assessments.
Infrastructure improvements hold enormous potential to make a lasting impact on safety. If most travel around the world were on roads rated 3-stars or better, there would be nearly 400,000 fewer deaths each year saving almost USD 1 trillion in road crash costs. By building on the Decade of Action for Road Safety, the Decade of Sustainable Transport is an opportunity for the world to realise this extraordinary potential.
Make a pledge for road safety
There is a community of organisations here to help governments make safe streets, roads and highways a reality. Hundreds of organisations and individuals involved in designing and financing road infrastructure from more than 60 countries have made a #SaferRoadsPledge for safe mobility in support of the SDGs. You can join the movement here.
Acerca de iRAP
With its global partners, the freely-available iRAP tools have now been used in more than 130 countries to assess the safety of some 3 million km of streets, roads and highways and influence design and construction projects worth more than $110 billion. It is estimated that projects which have made use of the iRAP tools and resources have prevented more than 700,000 deaths and serious injuries globally by the end of 2024.
Para más información
- On the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport, the call for commitments, key dates and how you can get involved
- How safe our roads are and the Investment Case for Safer Roads.
- Climate action and road safety.
- Casos de Éxito.
Crédito de la imagen: Milos-Muller (iStock)