EuroRAP: Investing in safer road infrastructure

18 April 2020

Story by Caitlin Magee for the Innovation News Network.

Road accidents cost Europe €280bn annually – the European road assessment programme is working towards a Europe free of High Risk Roads.

Following the success of the Euro NCAP programme in the 1990s in raising vehicle safety standards, European Ministries, road authorities and NGOs together created in 2002 the first Road Assessment Programme, EuroRAP.

In 2005, EuroRAP created iRAP , the International Road Assessment Programme, to act as an umbrella for regional RAPs around the world and act as a charitable Trustee for the protocols. The continuous improvement of these protocols has been made possible by global philanthropy, multilateral banks, international institutions, governments, NGOs, motor and roads industries and individuals. RAP metrics are recommended for use by the United Nations (as RAP metrics is a UN Target 3 and 4), World Health Organisation, and FIA Foundation and other leading institutions. They are applied in projects by the World Bank and regional development banks worldwide including the European Investment Bank and EBRD in Europe.

Every year the inclusion of RAP metrics are reported in the 2018 WHO Global Road Safety Status Report. The European road assessment programme (EuroRAP) provides tools and systems to help authorities, funding agencies, civil society associations, research and training institutes and other non-government organisations across Europe to make their roads safe. The association manages the application of the global Road Assessment Programme protocols in Europe.

The Innovation Platform spoke to EuroRAP Secretary-General Lina Konstantinopoulou after the new declaration of the UN Swedish Ministerial Round table and how she envisions safer roads in the next UN decade.

To access the interview, please click here.