Road traffic injuries claim more than 1.35 million lives each year with a disproportionate impact on health and development. They are the ninth leading cause of death across all age groups globally and the leading cause among young people aged between 5 and 29 years. Nearly 3,700 people die on the world’s roads every day. More than half of the global traffic deaths are amongst pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists (WHO, 2018).

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development set a goal of reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by 50% by 2020. Road Safety is included in the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets: SDGs 3, 11, 11.2.

Achieving road safety targets requires, among others, improving existing road infrastructure for the benefit of all road users, especially the most vulnerable (Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 – Pillar 2).

Improvements in infrastructure planning, design and construction, including the provision of safe infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists can reduce the risks that lead to road traffic injuries and fatalities. A lack of basic facilities such as footpaths, cycle paths, crosswalks, motorcycle lanes and safe speed-controlled crossing points on many roads, increases the level of risk for all road users.

According to the World Health Organization, improving the 10% highest-risk roads in each country over 20 years, through the implementation of footpaths, safety barriers, bicycle lanes and paved shoulders, just to mention a few, has the potential to prevent around 3.6 million deaths and 40 million serious injuries (WHO, 2015).