iRAP receives 2 million USD to provide children with safer journeys to school

ABO/NDO- The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) announced that it received a fund of 2 million USD and additional support from Google.org, to provide children with a safer journey to school, including Vietnamese children.

Using AI, satellite imagery and Street-View images to detect road safety risks, iRAP, together with partners AIP Foundation, Anditi and the University of Zagreb (FPZ, FER), will provide a star rating evaluation of road infrastructure around schools in Vietnam and support the upgrades at the highest-risk schools.

“We know that children are approximately 20 times more likely to be killed or injured on a 1-star road compared to a 5-star road. By using artificial intelligence to identify high-risk 1- and 2-star roads, that children use on their journey to school, we can identify known hazards and mobilise evidence-based upgrades, that will save children’s lives,” said iRAP CEO Rob McInerney.

A programme on traffic safety held for students in Hanoi (Photo: anninhthudo.vn).

According to traffic safety experts, road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents worldwide. Every day, more than 100,000 people die or suffer lifelong disabilities due to road traffic accidents around the world.

To deal with this issue the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3.6 strives to halve road deaths and injuries by 2030 and UN member states agreed on voluntary targets to improve road infrastructure safety to the iRAP 3-star or better global standard.

“Our ultimate dream is to Star Rate every road on earth and ensure every journey is safer. Achieving the UN target for more than 75% of travel on 3-star or better roads will help save over 100 million deaths and injuries, over the life of the upgrades. The Google.org partnership is a big safe step in that direction,” McInerney noted.

(Source: NDO)