Saving Lives Through Private Investment

Achieving safer roads and road use is possible. A realignment of incentives across safety outcomes and commercial interests is needed to mobilise and target the estimated $260 billion investment gap needed to halve road deaths and injuries by 2030. Innovative private sector financing and results-based impact investment holds the potential to unlock this win-win outcome to save lives, save money and create jobs worldwide.

The World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC), in partnership with the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) and FIA High Level Panel for Road Safety have released a report examining the market failure in road safety funding and outlining practical business models to mobilise the private investment and sustainable finance needed to address the invisible crisis of dangerous roads.

The  Saving Lives Through Private Investment in Road Safety Report  highlights road crashes as one of the leading causes of fatalities and serious injuries (FSIs) worldwide. Continuing with “business as usual” will see more than 375 million mostly young people killed and injured over the next decade resulting in economic losses of more than US$20 trillion by 2030. Road traffic crashes can cost countries as much as 6 percent of their GDP and trap families in poverty as they lose income generating potential and focus on providing lifetime care.

The full report can be downloaded here.