Irap Review

About Irap

IRAP: Saving Lives and Preventing Serious Injuries on the World's Roads

iRAP, or the International Road Assessment Programme, is a global initiative that aims to make roads safer for everyone. The programme serves as an umbrella for Road Assessment Programmes (RAPs) worldwide, all of which are working towards a common goal: to save lives and prevent serious injuries on the world's roads.

The iRAP Vision

At iRAP, our vision is simple yet powerful: we want to create a world free of high-risk roads. We believe that every person has the right to travel safely on their journey, whether they are walking, cycling or driving. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Every year, millions of people lose their lives or suffer serious injuries due to road accidents.

Our mission at iRAP is to change this reality by providing tools and resources that help governments and other stakeholders identify high-risk areas on their roads and take action to improve them. By doing so, we hope to reduce road fatalities and injuries around the world.

How Does iRAP Work?

iRAP works by partnering with local RAPs in different countries around the world. These RAPs are typically non-profit organizations that work closely with government agencies and other stakeholders in their respective countries.

The role of these RAPs is twofold: first, they conduct road assessments using standardized methods developed by iRAP; secondly, they use these assessments as a basis for advocating for improvements in road infrastructure.

The assessments themselves involve collecting data about various aspects of a given road segment such as its geometry (e.g., curvature), traffic volume and speed limits. This data is then used to calculate what we call "star ratings" for each segment based on how safe it is for different types of users (e.g., pedestrians).

Once these star ratings have been calculated, they can be used by local stakeholders such as government agencies or NGOs to prioritize road safety improvements. For example, a road segment with a low star rating for pedestrians might be targeted for the installation of sidewalks or crosswalks.

The Benefits of iRAP

There are many benefits to working with iRAP and its partner RAPs. Some of the most important include:

1. Improved Road Safety: By identifying high-risk areas on roads and advocating for improvements, iRAP and its partners can help reduce the number of fatalities and injuries caused by road accidents.

2. Cost-Effective Solutions: Many road safety improvements can be made relatively cheaply, such as installing speed humps or improving signage. By prioritizing these types of solutions based on data-driven assessments, governments can make the most impact with limited resources.

3. Increased Public Awareness: Through its advocacy work, iRAP helps raise public awareness about the importance of road safety and encourages people to take action in their own communities.

4. Collaboration Opportunities: Working with iRAP provides opportunities for collaboration between different stakeholders such as government agencies, NGOs and private sector organizations.

Conclusion

iRAP is an important initiative that is making a real difference in improving road safety around the world. By partnering with local RAPs in different countries, it is able to provide standardized tools and resources that help identify high-risk areas on roads and advocate for improvements that save lives and prevent serious injuries.

If you are interested in learning more about iRAP or getting involved in its work, we encourage you to visit their website at www.irap.org today!