48033-001 Enhancing Road Safety for Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Member Countries

Description

The CAREC TTFS, endorsed at the 12th Ministerial Conference on Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation held in Astana, Kazakhstan on 23-24 October 2013, identified the need for TA on road safety for CAREC member countries. The proposed TA fulfills ADB s commitment to delivery of TA on road safety intended to reduce the burden associated with road collisions in CAREC member countries. The proposed TA will seek to attempt to reduce loss of life and resulting poverty impacts associated with road traffic collisions through developing capacity in CAREC member countries in key areas relating to road safety: road safety management; data collection and analysis; road safety engineering; enforcement of traffic laws; and road safety advocacy and education. The expected TA outputs are: (i) an established a CAREC road safety strategy, (ii) strengthened capacity of CAREC member countries to manage and coordinate road safety activities including improved data collection and road collision research, improved engineering, education and enforcement capacity, and (iii) integration of road safety evaluation tools into CAREC road projects. The outcome will be strengthened capacity of CAREC governments to identify and address key road safety issues in their respective countries. The impact of the TA will be improvements in road safety performance in CAREC member countries. The principal target is for a 10% reduction in the number of fatalities per 100,000 population for CAREC member countries between 2010 and 2020.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

Loss of life and injury: An estimated 1.2-1.3 million people are killed, and up to 50 million injured , on the world s roads every year, and without decisive intervention the annual fatality toll is forecast to increase to more than 1.8 million by 2020. Over 90% of the world s fatalities on the road occur in low and middle income countries, which have only 48% of the world s registered vehicles. Low and middle income countries have higher road traffic fatality rates (21.5 and 19.5 per 100,000 population, respectively) than high income countries (10.3 per 100,000 populations). Traffic fatality rates in CAREC member countries range from 13.1 to 21.9 per 100,000 population. WHO predicts that road traffic injuries will rise to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2030. Considering current vehicle ownership rates, which are low and likely to increase over time, and future economic development in CAREC member countries, it is likely that, in the absence of concerted action on road safety, the toll of fatalities and injuries in the region will increase markedly over the coming decade. Road crashes are now a recognized problem and CAREC member countries have been undertaking actions to improve road safety. A number of countries have adopted national road safety strategies (e.g. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, PRC and Uzbekistan), however, some are either unfunded or only partially funded. In many CAREC member countries there are strong, albeit varied, laws and policies relating to drink driving, seatbelt wearing, helmet use, and use of mobile phones whilst driving, with levels of police enforcement varying widely. However in general, road safety activities are under-resourced; additional (human and financial) resources are needed. Poverty: The burden of road collisions falls disproportionately on the poor, with more than half of all road casualties in the vulnerable road user category, i.e. pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists. Two-thirds of victims families need to take loans to cover lost income and many families are driven into poverty or indebtedness as a result of road collision-related fatalities or injuries . Road collisions are however, preventable. Proper road safety management and coordination, improved data collection and research, engineering, enforcement and education initiatives, as well as post-crash care can all contribute to reducing the number and severity of road collisions. The CAREC Transport and Trade Facilitation Strategy 2020 noted that it is economically and socially beneficial to invest in improving safety of the region s roads, and that support will be provided for road safety management capacity; safe approaches to the design, construction, operation and maintenance of road infrastructure; road safety performance measures and mobilizing resources for road safety measures .
Impact

Improvements in road safety performance in CAREC member countries
Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Strengthened capacity of CAREC governments to identify and address key road safety issues in their respective countries
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

CAREC road safety strategy published Strengthened capacity of CAREC member countries to manage and coordinate road safety activities, including improved data collection and road collision research, improved engineering, education, and enforcement capacity Integration of road safety evaluation tools into CAREC road projects
Stakeholder Participation and Consultation
During Project Design

The TTFS 2020, endorsed at the 12th Ministerial Conference on Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation held in Astana, Kazakhstan on the 23 , 24 October 2013, included the proposed TA to respond the CAREC member countries immediate needs on enhancing their capacity on road safety. The CAREC Transport Sector Coordination Committee (TSCC) and its Senior Official Meeting held in 2014 also confirmed the need.

 Country: Regional
Project Number: 48033-001
Type or Modality of Assistance: Technical Assistance
Financing: Public sector (Sovereign)
Status: Approved
Approval Number: TA No. 8804
Approval Date: 15 Dec 2014
ADB Financing ($ thousand): 1,500
Geographical Location: Kyrgyz Republic,Mongolia,Pakistan,Kazakhstan,People's Republic of China,Afghanistan,Uzbekistan,Tajikistan,Turkmenistan,Azerbaijan
Sector: Transport
Subsector: Road transport (non-urban)
Strategic Agendas: Inclusive economic growth (IEG)
Regional integration (RCI)
Drivers of Change: Governance and capacity development (GCD)
Knowledge solutions (KNS)
Partnerships (PAR)
Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Categories: Category 4: No gender elements (NGE)

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

Responsible ADB Officer

Responsible ADB Divisions