Conference

Empowering Communities to Manage Speed

  • May 20, 2021 - 9:00 am to 10:30 am
  • Online
Official launch of the Low Speed Zone Guide “Empowering Communities to Manage Speed”

On May 20, GRSF and the World Resources Institute hosted the event “Empowering Communities to Manage Speed,” which marked the official launch of the Low-Speed Zone Guide.

  • Overview

Speed is one of the main risk factors in road traffic crashes and is a leading contributor to death and serious injuries. Higher speeds are associated with a significantly higher crash risk: even small increases in speed significantly increase the probability of death or injury. Traffic crashes are now a leading cause of death worldwide, and the number one cause of death and serious injury for children and young adults aged 5 to 29.

Things can be different though; we know what works. To help address the collective impact of speed as a contributor to crash risks, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Bank’s Global Road Safety Facility (GRSF) hosted the event “Empowering Communities to Manage Speed,” which marked the official launch of the Low-Speed Zone Guide. A pre-launch of an upcoming Global Speed Management Guide for policymakers was also presented.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered urban landscapes around the world, cities are facing new challenges and there is an increased urgency for improving road safety. Many cities are now tasked with protecting the more vulnerable users in addition to creating safe public spaces that will enable economic recovery and allow residents to enjoy outdoors.

At the same time, walking and cycling are among the most sustainable ways to get around cities – but not if they lack safe infrastructure and become extremely dangerous. Low speed zones are therefore not only key to improving safety by reducing fatalities and injuries, but also reap a variety of other benefits, ranging from better air quality, to economic recovery to long-term sustainability. This speed issue goes beyond low speed zones, and covers all types of environments where higher speeds might be considered, but with adequate complementary measures.

MATERIALS ⌵︎

Watch recordings  WRI/GRSF slides

SPEAKERS ⌵︎

Opening Remarks

Ani Dasgupta, Global Director, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

Pablo Fajnzylber, Acting Vice President and Director of Strategy and Operations, Infrastructure, World Bank

WB & WRI Technical Presentations

Ben Welle, Director of Integrated Transport and Innovation, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

Nikita Luke, Senior Project Associate, Health and Road Safety, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

Sudeshna Mitra, Transport Specialist, Global Road Safety Facility, World Bank

Panel Discussion

Claudia Adriazola-Steil, Acting Director, Urban Mobility, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

Blair Turner, Senior Transport Specialist, Global Road Safety Facility, World Bank

Matthew Baldwin, EU Coordinator for Road Safety and Sustainable Urban Mobility

Kelly Larson, Program Director, Bloomberg Philanthropies

Moderator: Marcela Silva, Transport Practice Manager, Africa Region, World Bank

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