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
- Together with UNECE on the road to safety
Preventing Drink Driving in Africa
Spectrum of Road Safety Activities
Consolidated resolution on road signs and signals (R.E.2)
Consolidated resolution on road traffic (R.E.1)
Improving Global Road Safety
Transport Review Road Safety
Regional Perspectives on preventing alcohol-related road crashes involving vulnerable road users
IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code)
European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR 2015)
ADR: Road map for accession and implementation
The United Nations Motorcycle Helmet Study
AETR - Road Map for Accession and Implementation
Child Restraint systems
World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) – How It Works, How to Join It (June 2012) - 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.