How Businesses can Help the Fight to Save Lives

The International Transport Forum (ITF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) today launched “The Global Road Safety Assessment Framework for Corporate Action and Reporting” to support businesses in integrating robust road safety practices into their operations and value chains and thereby contribute to the global effort to reduce road traffic fatalities and injuries.   

The development of this framework was initiated in response to a call from Transport Ministers representing over 60 countries at their 2024 Summit in Leipzig, Germany.  

There,  Ministers urged the creation of an assessment framework to enhance road safety practices across corporate value chains and align them with the Global Plan for the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.  

Road traffic crashes claim approximately 1.2 million lives annually, making them a leading cause of death globally. The Decade of Action aims to halve the number of traffic deaths by 2030.  

In view of the huge potential for businesses to help reduce the number of traffic victims, the ITF and WHO developed this framework to guide companies in managing to protect their workforce and the communities they serve. 

Key Components of the Framework: 

Standards: Builds on existing international and national instruments to identify best practice, including ISO standards and ILO recommendations for ensuring the safety of the workforce, contracted labour, contracted transport services and travel for work.  

Guidelines: Extend safety management to workforce commuting and contractual relations with suppliers and distributors across the supply chain. 

Reporting: Established international reporting standards are applied, with self-reporting of performance at least in the pilot phase. 

Companies adopting the framework can expect to cut the leading cause of workplace injuries, with reduced operational disruptions, improved employee well-being, and enhanced corporate reputation. Financial markets are likely to favour investment in firms that adopt best practice in managing road safety risks.

A brochure setting out all elements of the Global Road Safety Assessment Framework for Corporate Action and Reporting is now available for download below. Businesses are invited to engage with the ITF and the WHO to assess and enhance their road safety practices. The private sector can make a significant contribution the global target of halving road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.

Media contact: 

Michael Kloth 
Head of Communications 
Send an email 

Note to Editors: For more information on the Global Plan for the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, please visit this dedicated page on the WHO website