Pedestrian Safety Manual Launched

23 April 2013

WHO and partners launch Pedestrian Safety: a road safety manual for decision-makers and practitioners.

Each year, more than 270,000 pedestrians lose their lives on the world's roads, while millions are left with injuries or permanent disabilities.  Pedestrian safety: a road safety manual for decision-makers and practitioners, jointly developed by WHO, the FIA Foundation, the Global Road Safety Partnership and the World Bank, and many experts from around the world, provides practical information on how to plan, implement and evaluate a pedestrian safety programme.

The capacity to respond to pedestrian safety is an important component of efforts to prevent road traffic deaths and injuries. Proven interventions exist, yet in many locations pedestrian safety does not attract the attention it merits. The manual, designed for a multidisciplinary audience including engineers, planners, police, public health professionals and educators, will contribute towards strengthening national and local capacity to implement pedestrian safety measures in settings worldwide.

The manual equips the reader with necessary information on the magnitude of pedestrian death and injury, key risk factors, how to assess the pedestrian safety situation in a country or area and prepare an action plan, and how to select, design, implement and evaluate effective interventions. The manual stresses the importance of a comprehensive, holistic approach that includes enforcement, engineering and education. It also draws attention to the benefits of walking, which should be promoted as an important mode of transport given its potential to improve health and preserve the environment. 

The manual is launched just ahead of the Second UN Global Road Safety Week 6th-12th May, dedicated this year to pedestrian safety.   

This manual is the latest among a group of select publications  developed jointly by multiple partner agencies of the UN Road Safety Collaboration or in some cases by individual partner agencies.