Ε.Υ.ΘΥ.Τ.Α.Ρόδου

Global initiatives Event: Third annual meeting of the Child Health Initiative The third annual Child Health Initiative (CHI) members meeting took place last month, discussing future opportunities for collaboration and cooperation in the lead up to Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety next year. Supporting the demands and commitments made by its members, the CHI has launched its Activity and progress report 2016-19 – outlining and assessing the global campaigns, advocacy and practical interventions of member organisations across the world.

Vehicles Initiative: Greener vehicles Green NCAP, the consumer programme for greener cars, has launched its second round of results, rating five new vehicle models on their energy efficiency and carbon emissions. Only one entry – the Nissan LEAF – was a purely electric vehicle, and it achieved the only five-star rating of the models tested. Research: International vehicle standards The worldwide adoption of priority vehicle standards could seriously reduce road deaths and serious injuries, particularly those in low-income countries, according to new research commissioned by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The study assesses the impact of implementing three major vehicle safety standards to four Latin American countries (Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Brazil) – a region which could collectively save up to 25,000 lives, prevent 170,000 serious injuries and generate an economic surplus of up to USD $28.9bn by implementing these changes. Road users Policy: Active travel A new report from the UK parliament has criticised the lack of funding opportunities available for active travel initiatives – describing them as too piecemeal for any significant improvements in walking and cycling. Despite the UK Government’s recent efforts to promote active transport, particularly for shorter journeys, the report argues that these attempts have been hindered by insecure funding channels. The report recommends the creation of a dedicated fund to support active travel initiatives, to provide local authorities with the fiscal security needed for long-term policy commitments. Research: Road casualties More than 1,000 children are killed or seriously injured on the roads in Lebanon, and nearly half of these individuals (47%) are vulnerable road users, according to a new report from the Save the Children Foundation. The report highlights the risks posed to young road users, particularly pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists – emphasising the severity of this public health crisis and recommending solutions based on safer infrastructure; effective law enforcement; accurate crash reporting and evidence-based road safety policies and programmes. Roads Research: Resilient infrastructure Policy-makers must take stronger steps to understand and invest in resilient infrastructure systems to create safer societies, according to the World Banking Group. 'Lifelines: The resilient infrastructure opportunity' explains to policy-makers the impacts and opportunities that infrastructure brings to people’s quality of life with a particular focus on the negative effects of aging and crumbling infrastructure. The report concludes that effective investment in resilient infrastructure systems could result in long-term savings of up to USD $42 trillion. Post-crash response Policy: Road casualty reduction The UK government has set out a major package of measures to reduce road death and injury in its new road safety action plan. Recognising the role employers have to play in creating safer roads, the action plan aimed at improving road safety for each stage of life, promotes safer vehicles and ensuring their drivers are prepared and motivated to drive safely.