In a world where annually more than one million people die on the road, UNECE manages a number of United Nations road safety legal instruments. They are negotiated by governments and become legally binding for states that accede to them. These legal instruments cover:
- Traffic rules
- Road signs and signals
- Construction and technical inspection of vehicles
- Road infrastructure
- Driving times and rest periods for professional drivers
- Safe transport of dangerous goods and hazardous materials
These conventions are administered by the relevant Working Parties or Administrative Committees in charge of updating and amending these instruments. The UNECE secretariat incorporates a governance structure that offers a multi-dimensional approach to assist with accession and to facilitate implementation. The conventions enhance road safety and facilitate international road traffic, trade and tourism.
The Working Party on Road Traffic Safety (WP.1), the main coordinating body in the area of road safety, works in conjunction with other working parties such as SC.1 (road transport), WP.6 (transport statistics), WP.15 (transport of dangerous goods), WP.24 (safe loading of cargo) and WP.29 (vehicle regulations) to offer a comprehensive platform that enables cooperation and the exchange of information and best practices among governments.
The UNECE also provides secretariat services to the United Nations Secretary-General Special Envoy for Road Safety.
- Publications
- See here the list of publications related to Road Traffic and Road Safety
- Films
- UN Road Safety Fund
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Established in April 2018, the United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) aims to help low- and middle-income countries put in place effective national road safety systems in order to (a) substantially curb the number of fatalities and injuries from road crashes, and (b) reduce economic losses resulting from them. More information here.