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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

The Belize Road Safety Initiative

Belize recorded 78 Road Traffic Fatalities (RTF) in 2009, equivalent to 24 traffic deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, giving it the highest fatality rate of the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) Borrowing Member Countries. A Government of Belize’s (GOBZ) Ministry of Health study estimated that the cost to Belize’s economy of Road Traffic Injuries (RTI) was equivalent to 1.26% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (2007). To assist GOBZ to make informed road safety investment decisions, CDB provided grant resources for two Technical Assistance (TA) interventions, a Road Safety Management Capacity Review; and a Road Assessment Programme. The objective of the first consultancy was to review safety management capacity in accordance with the approach set out in the World Bank’s (WB) Guidelines and reach consensus with GOBZ on a multi-sectoral investment strategy for improving road safety management capacity. The objective of the second consultancy was to undertake a survey of the main highway network using established International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) protocols to develop a prioritised capital investment programme of road infrastructure safety improvements. The TAs were completed in January 2012, and following broad public and private sector stakeholder's consultation, agreement was reached on the proposed investments. In May 2012, CDB’s Board of Directors (BOD) approved a loan to GOBZ for a Road Safety Project. The Project is the first phase of what is expected to be a long-term GOBZ initiative to improve road safety in the country. It focuses on five objectives, the safety of road infrastructure along a demonstration corridor; road user awareness of safety; driver behaviour and adherence to traffic laws; post-crash care; and the capacity to manage road safety. The results realised thus far from infrastructure, enforcement, and public awareness investments have exceeded expectations. By October 2014, RTF on the Corridor dropped by 21% from the 2012 baseline, with a monthly trend that suggests a continued decline (the project target outcome was 20%). By comparison, a similar corridor on the network with no investment in infrastructure or enforcement, has registered a significant increase in fatalities (14%). The declining fatality rates correlate closely with the commencement of enforcement patrols. Vehicles exceeding the posted speed limit declined by 12% between March and September 2014. During a recent (April to July 2014) drunk˗driving awareness campaign, alcohol-related RTF dropped by 50%, compared to the same period in the previous year. The performance of the infrastructure is more difficult to measure, however, had the dangerous pre˗project conditions not been addressed by the installation of guardrails, there would have most certainly been fatalities. The Project is scheduled for completion in September 2017.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Figures; References;
  • Pagination: 14p
  • Monograph Title: Proceedings of the 25th World Road Congress - Seoul 2015: Roads and Mobility - Creating New Value from Transport

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01676802
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 9782840604235
  • Report/Paper Numbers: 0081
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jul 26 2018 2:42PM