Transcript Road Safety in Albania

Road Safety in Albania
World Bank Head of Resident Mission
Tirana, Feb 17 2003
The World Bank and Road Safety
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“Road Safety is an issue of immense human
proportions, it’s an issue of economic proportions, it’s an
issue of social proportions and it’s also an issue of
equity. Road safety very much affects poor people”
James D. Wolfensohn
President, World Bank Group
Road Safety is a serious public health issue….
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• Between 0.8 and 1.0 million people die on the world’s
roads each year
• A further 24 million are injured
• The economic cost is about 1% of GDP in low income
countries, 1.5% in transition economies
• It is the 9th leading cause of death today
• WHO estimates it will be the 3rd leading cause of death
worldwide in 2020
Traffic accidents have social impacts…..
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• WHO considers traffic accidents a pandemic
disease; already up to 50% of hospital beds may
be occupied by traffic accident victims (costs)
• Poverty impact of traffic accidents
- high proportion of most vulnerable road users are
poor, aggravated by lack of insurance and frequent
poor condition of transport modes used
- legal status of widows is often weak and loss of
income earner can lead to break-up of families.
……..in Albania, the Ministry of Health
perceives traffic accidents are one of
the leading causes of death, and
accident victims are the main users of
hospital emergency services
World Bank Support to Road Safety in
Albania
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• World Bank funded a Road Safety Study and Program for
Albania in 1996, under the National Transport Project
• In recognition of the recent road safety initiatives by the
Government of Albania, the Bank is pleased to continue
support in this important area, as an integral part of the
new ‘Road Maintenance Project (RMP)’ for the Ministry of
Transport and Telecommunications, Ministry of Local
Government and Decentralisation, and the Ministry of
Public Order. More information on the road safety
aspects of the RMP will be given during the Seminar
today.