China

Situation

China

Over 58,000* people are killed every year due to road traffic crashes – an unacceptably high number. Speed and drink-driving are identified as the main risk factors involved in road traffic fatalities and as a result, a range of strategies have been developed and adopted to address these concerns.

Road safety measures in place include national (and locally set) speed limits and drink-driving laws – of which enforcement is moderate to high.

In recent years, the overall trend in road traffic deaths has decreased and continues to demonstrate a downward decline, in line with China’s commitment to reduce fatalities by 32%* (per 10,000 vehicles) by 2020.

(*WHO 2015)

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GRSP activities

Activities

Advocacy & Grants:
GRSP works with organizations in China to support government efforts to strengthen road safety legislation on the local and national level. Organizations promote evidence-based policies, such as legislation on the mandatory use of child restraints.

Road policing:
GRSP supports road police in Shanghai to identify emerging road safety issues and how to enforce road traffic laws. Work in Shanghai focuses on four main risk factors (i.e. drink driving, helmet wearing, seatbelt wearing)
GRSP’s international road policing trainer will deliver a seatbelt enforcement training for Shanghai Traffic Police officers in February 21st – 22nd 2017.

Programmes

Road Safety Grants Programme

The grants programme supports projects to develop and deliver high-impact, evidence-based interventions designed to strengthen road safety policies and their implementation.

Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS)

The programme works with countries at the national level to strengthen road safety legislation, and with cities at the city level to implement proven road safety interventions.

Global Road Safety Initiative (GRSI)

The Global Road Safety Initiative (GRSI) was one of the world’s largest joint commitments of private sector resources toward road safety in low- and middle-income countries. The Initiative is now closed, however implementations of programmes developed through the initiative such as Safe to School – Safe to Home in Vietnam and China are still in operation under local authorities and the methodology has been embedded into curriculum.

Road user groups

Children

With around 186 300 children under 18 years die from road traffic crashes annually, it is unacceptable that some countries still do not have legislation regarding obligatory usage and set safety standards for child restraints.

Powered 2 and 3 wheelers

Motorcyclists are just 1% of total road traffic, but account for 19% of all road user deaths. This is a clear sign that there is a huge problem and that correct interventions would greatly reduce the road traffic fatalities. GRSP is heavily involved in advocating better helmet wearing legislations and is helping enforcement agencies be more effective with this road use group.