Formulation of road safety strategy for developing countries with special reference to Jordan

In the last two decades, many developed and developing countries have commissioned or considered conducting studies, which are designed to develop a future road safety strategy, and provide a framework for facilitating action. This paper reviews the main studies, then sets the steps and components to formulate a road safety strategy for developing countries by considering various approaches and implementation scenarios for being included in one comprehensive strategy. In Jordan, classified as a middle-income developing country, the current traffic safety conditions are already extremely serious and is expected to worsen in the future unless necessary effective remedial measures are taken and implemented. The paper provides an insight into the road safety issue in Jordan, identifies the need to combat the problem then presents a recommended comprehensive road safety strategy to counteract it. The strategy incorporates two phases: the first is regarded as a short-term remedy which, using a predesigned questionnaire, identifies the most effective and acceptable countermeasures (CMs) as perceived by road users. The second phase involves the formulation of a comprehensive strategy for long-term remedy. A long term national road safety strategy based on internationally recognized approaches was developed and its various components are presented. The final output of this study provides all parties involved in traffic safety with a best practice guide and a comprehensive road safety strategy to assist them in their initial strategic choice of cost-effective investments that aim to improve road safety.