What Works and What Does Not Work

15 March 2021

A new valuable evidence-based guide on “What Works and What Does Not Work” in road safety has been issued by the Prince Michael Award winning team from the World Bank GRSF in response to the critical need for effective evidence-based solutions. It is essential reading for all with a professional responsibility for advice or delivery.

The guide will help road safety practitioners understand that what sometimes appear to be “common-sense” approaches often not deliver the best road safety outcomes. Although some interventions provide benefits, others have very limited or even negative impacts, despite being commonly—and mistakenly—recommended and adopted.

The guide offers a range of recommendations with a focus on interventions in LMICs, although the information is also of relevance to all countries.

The guide sets knowledge on evidence-based interventions within a “Safe System” context, providing advice on each of the Safe System pillars (road safety management, safe roads, safe speeds, safe vehicles, safe road users, and post-crash care) while recognizing that evidence-based solutions must be drawn from across pillars to produce effective road safety outcomes. 

Equally important, the report also identifies clear examples where interventions are not effective. These include increasing travel speed without improving quality of safety infrastructure, and most forms of post-license driver and rider education and training, which can increase the level of confidence and lead to risk-taking. 

Available here: