New EASST report reveals economic cost of road crashes in the EBRD region and urges action

Our new report published this week along with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Towards Zero Foundation, Global NCAP and the FIA Foundation uses data from the World Health Organisation Global Status Report on Road Safety 2015 to examine the total number of road deaths and injuries in the EBRD countries of operations, including all 14 EASST countries, as well as the economic cost of road crashes to these countries in transition.

The report’s findings reveal that the average number of road deaths in EBRD countries of operations are more than 4 times higher than in the UK, with an annual economic cost of around USD 200 billion a year.

The report also details each country’s record in terms of road safety management, speed management, legislation and enforcement, road quality, vehicle safety and post-crash care, aiming to provide insight and understanding into this key development issue and encourage action. As EBRD President, Sir Suma Chakrabarti notes in his foreword to the report, “the solutions to the problem are all out there and within easy reach!”

Taking action on road safety is about improving outcomes for people and communities, and reducing the significant social and economic burden of deaths and injuries that can so easily be prevented.