June 1, 2008 – Despite recent interventions to improve road safety conditions in  China (see  New Initiatives in Road Safetyfeature), the number and severity of road accidents remain high. Vulnerable road users, especially pedestrians, are at the greatest risk to injury in road traffic accidents. Among other factors, road safety risks for these users on China roads originate from: (i) inappropriate at-grade crossings in towns and villages, lacking appropriate signal timing and signage, (ii) implementing dual carriageway roads with mixed traffic, such as bicycles, carts, and trucks, (iii) unsafe road designs, including steep downhill gradients with insufficient safety provisions, and (iv) inadequate planning for emergency vehicle access.

Recently various interventions have been carried out by the Chinese Government to address the current road safety situation, including the establishment of the National Road Safety Ministerial Meeting Agency. Positive results have emerged but are still insufficient.    In a recent effort to reduce road traffic accidents in northwest China, the Xinjiang Construction Communications Administration Bureau (XCCAB) approached the World Bank seeking technical assistance through international experience. Supported by a grant from the World Bank Global Road Safety Facility, the partnership of the XCCAB and the World Bank’s East Asia and Pacific region developed a three-day training seminar, Xinjiang Road Safety Workshop for Designers, which was held in Xinjiang’s capital Urumqi April 7-9, 2008.  The main objectives of the workshop were:

·         Raise a general awareness of road safety issues;

·         Strengthen the capacity in Xinjiang Province to support sustainable reductions in road deaths and injuries;

·            Transfer safety knowledge to underdeveloped, western China; and

·          Promote innovative infrastructure solutions to improve the safety condition in provinces like Xinjiang

“At a time when China is building the bulk of its modern road network, this workshop provides information and experience to designers, and warns them on mistakes to be avoided,” said Mr. Jean-Marie Braun, Technical Director of Ingérop.

This workshop took a pragmatic approach and introduced topics including: accident statistics and analysis, infrastructure safety management, road user behavior, education, enforcement, & vehicle standards, sustainable safe road design, application of International Road Assessment Program (IRAP), and case studies from Xinjiang.  Prominent experts in the field from around the globe were invited to make presentations on these topics. These speakers were: Dr. Fergus Tate, the National Road Safety Leader with engineering consultants MWH (New Zealand), Jean-Marie Braun, the Technical Director of Ingérop (France), Paul Hillier, ARRB Group’s Discipline Leader in Road Safety and Traffic Engineering (Australia), Alain Dubé, Senior Manager with the Quebec Ministry of Transport (Canada), and Mr. He Yong, Director in Highway Research Institute of Ministry of Communications (China). The combined experience of these presenters covers decades of road safety research and application, with a proven history of road safety management and design.

More than 60 representatives from various highway administrations, design institutes, and traffic agencies attended the seminar. These representatives will bring the training they received at the workshop to their local agencies for the purpose of improving overall policy, operation and effectiveness. Many participants felt   “this training opened their eyes and will deeply impact their way of designing roads and safety in China.”

Highlighting the importance of this workshop, Mr. He Yong, Director in Highway Research Institute of Ministry of Communications, said: “Since the Chinese government has established the National Road Safety Ministerial Meeting Agency, the road traffic safety situation has improved. Decreases in accidents, deaths, and injuries have all declined, but the agency is still new and it needs the training the workshop provided.”

The National Road Safety Agency and participating groups conveyed their appreciation for this workshop.   The Ministry of Communications was particularly pleased with the outcome of this workshop and expressed interest for the Bank’s assistance in similar training activities at the national level or within other provinces in China.   It is expected that information from this workshop shall inform future efforts in the design of China’s transport, as well as consideration of the policy and enforcement mechanisms used to enhance road safety.

For further information contact Fei Deng (EASTE) at fdeng@worldbank.org