The fact is this: People who are able to travel safely on roads that are free of dangerous conditions are more resilient, productive, and happier. Not only that, but countries that incubate safe roads tend to be better placed in the global economy. The connection may not be immediately obvious, but safer roads can be linked to high returns on education and health investments.
In the end, most services and national freight needs are completed by the trucking industry. It’s for this reason that safer roads go beyond just materially improving lives, it’s also about the very nature of our modern supply chain.
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But Why?
Rad traffic crashes are expected to be the fifth-leading cause of death worldwide by 2030, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Those most cut down by road collisions are young people between the ages of 15 and 29. These are the people on the precipice of their most economically productive years. As a result, deaths and severe injuries of this kind have a tremendous impact on economic progress within communities.
The main reason for this is simple: Countries (including our own) that don’t put the resources and energy into improving how safe their roads and vehicles are will have a higher rate of death and injury. Although we managed to finally pass a clean highway funding bill, are we at risk of ending up with dangerous roads as a result of a lack of action on the funding level?
More Than Roads
In reality, the safe road discussion goes beyond just the roads themselves. It is the responsibility of all parties involved to make sure building road safety management, post-crash care capacity, and programs to encourage safe road behaviors are all given proper attention. Because investments in all of these factors can increase productivity and reduce traffic crashes.
But in the end, improving roads may still be the safest and most effective option. A significant portion of road fatalities happen when people are commuting to and from their jobs. So the argument can be made that the safety of our employees equates to the safety of our supply chain.
The Effect of Globalization
As countries have risen up, the powerful tools provided by rapid globalization have increased motorization by orders of magnitude. The world’s vehicles are expected to double from one billion in 2010 to two billion by 2020.
That growth is expected to be mirrored here in the states. Are our already ill-equipped and underdeveloped roads ready to handle an increase of that kind?
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When evaluating this problem from a high level, it becomes apparent that everybody must play a part, from governmental institutions to private companies and agencies. Achieving our ideal collective aspirations for safer roads will require more than just lip-service; serious commitment and a requisition of resources will be required from all corners of society.
What Do We Do?
There should be several major aspirations involved when organizations come together to evaluate the safety of our roads.
Principle tenets are to:
- Put the well-being of people and their ability to engage in safe mobility at the center of the debate. All people have the right to safe mobility.
- Recognize that safer roads are a shared responsibility. From road system designers to operators and users, everyone plays a part.
- Develop scaled-up, well-designed and long-term projects.
- Stay guided only by scientific evidence.
- Remain open to innovation and new industry developments.
- Tailor to whatever the regional and local conditions, cultures and peoples need.
Although road crashes already claim two lives a minute around the world, this problem receives far too little attention. It then becomes imperative upon established institutions, whether governmental or private, to make the big decisions necessary to ensure the safety of our roads for future generations.