700,000 deaths and serious injuries saved:

8 May 2024

Using the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) methodology, road safety infrastructure changes and safer speeds have prevented almost 700,000 deaths and serious injuries in 74 countries since 2016, according to a new paper with Johns Hopkins University published in the respected journal PLOS One.

The paper ‘Statistical estimation of fatal and serious injuries saved by iRAP protocols in 74 countries ’ estimates the likely impact of road improvements in 1,039 infrastructure projects where the iRAP methodology and tools have been used.

Key findings of the report, with modelling year-by-year, show the application of the iRAP model will have prevented a cumulative and estimated 699,768 deaths and serious injuries between January 2016 and the end of 2024. Further, the paper projects that by 2044, the existing road treatments will prevent almost 3.2 million fatalities and serious injuries, given the average effective lifespan of 20 years.