INGENIEUR
particular along the routes of the Asian Highway
network, and promote the spread and use of
related technologies through the development of
model intelligent transport systems deployments
for the region.
(c) Development of strategies. This project
will promote and facilitate the implementation of
the Asian Highway design standards stipulated in
annex II to the Intergovernmental Agreement on
the Asian Highway Network.
(d) Sharing of knowledge and know-how.
The development of modern and efficient road
infrastructure is closely linked to the ability to
understand, develop and maintain new systems
using the latest technologies and to operate
those systems efficiently to meet economic,
social and environmental objectives. The project
provides a platform for member States, road
operators and international organisations to
share their knowledge and experiences. ESCAP,
in collaboration with the Korea Expressway
Corporation will provide networking opportunities
through the organisation of two regional seminars.
Asian Highway Database
The Asian Highway database includes detailed
country-based information on the Asian Highway
network. It is updated biennially on the basis
of information received from member States
to monitor the improvement of the network in
conformity with the design standards set out in
annex II to the Intergovernmental Agreement on
the Asian Highway Network. The Asian Highway
database is available to member States and
development partners through the ESCAP website.
The updating of the database in 2015 is
ongoing. The secretariat has already received
updates from 16 member States. In this regard,
member States that have not already done so are
encouraged to provide the requested information
to the secretariat.
Improving Road Safety
The extensive human and economic impact of
road accidents, especially on low and low-middle
income countries, pushed the General Assembly
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to call on the international community to give
priority to this issue by adopting in 2010 resolution
64/255 in which it proclaimed the period 20112020 as the Decade of Action for Road Safety.
This issue is particularly critical in the ESCAP
region. The most recent Global Status Report on
Road Safety 2013 published by the World Health
Organisation (WHO) shows that in 2010, more
than half of the world’s 1.24 million road accident
fatalities occurred in Asia and the Pacific. The
report also reveals that over the period 20072010, while the global number of road accident
fatalities remained stable, that number increased
by more than 10% in the region. WHO statistics
also show that achievements in road safety are
uneven across the region. During the period 20112013, some countries, such as Japan, Singapore
and Thailand, were able to reduce their number
of road accidents and road fatalities; while
others, such as Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal,
experienced the opposite trend.
Studies show a strong correlation between
infrastructure design and road safety. Road
engineering and design can also influence the
severity of the crashes. The design standards
chosen for the construction of new roads should
ensure that they meet the highest existing safety
standards available in the field. Existing road
infrastructure should also be subjected to regular
safety audits with a focus on roads with the
highest crash risk.
In many countries, the installation of barriers
to separate opposing directions of traffic and/
or different types of vehicles, the application of
access control principles, better geometric design
of roads to increase the sight distance in curves
and the improvement of road shoulders are
examples of infrastructure-related measures that
have contributed to a reduction in road accidents
and fatalities wherever they have been applied.
International experiences show that interventions
in terms of road infrastructure to improve the
driving environment can pay for themselves and
the related financial investment can be recovered
within a reasonable period of time.
In this regard, information from the Asian
Highway database shows that the primary class
Asian Highway roads have the best safety record,
while those below class III have the worst record.
The average fatality rate for primary class roads