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Global Road Safety Partnership
Global Road Safety Partnership: South Africa
Background to the GRSP
The Global Road Safety Partnership [GRSP] brings together governments and governmental agencies, the private sector and civil society organizations to address road safety in low and middle income countries. GRSP is a hosted programme of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies [IFRC] based in Geneva.
The World Bank, Department of International Development of the Unites Kingdom and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies initiated the Global Road Safety Partnership [GRSP] IN 1999. GRSP’s global members come from a broad range of different organizations and companies: multi- and bilateral organizations, Unites Nations agencies, car manufacturers, oil companies, vehicle component manufacturers, research organizations, non-governmental organizations, as well as safety and road equipment producers.
GRSP is not a funding agency and does not finance the sort of road safety interventions normally paid for by governments. Instead, it operates in focus countries as a broker, linking organizations and sectors together in new partnership projects benefiting from the different strengths of each organization.
Today it is widely acknowledged that many sectors have a role to play in road safety, especially in the prevention of crashes, deaths and injuries. GRSP brings together these sectors at the global, national and sometimes local government level. GRSP provides advice on good practice and facilitates projects in a growing number of countries.
Global Road Safety Partnership in South Africa
The GRSP ZA Committee formed a partnership with the Department of Roads and Transport of the Limpopo Province to implement a road safety education and communication programme in a remote rural area in a province which was identified as a high risk area. The partners supporting the Limpopo government were the Automobile Association of South Africa, Daimler Chrysler SA, BP SA, 3M SA, Drive Alive and CSIR. The implementation of the programme, which involved 4000 secondary school children and teachers teaching mathematics, biology, science, geography, languages and technical subjects, was monitored by the road safety officials of the Department of Roads and Transport.
Dr Pieter Venter was appointed as country advisor of the Global Road Safety Partnership on 1 January 2006.
Mission of Global Road Safety Partnership South Africa / GRSP ZA
South Africa has one of the worst road safety records in the world. Over the last 10 years more than 120 000 people were killed and more than a million injured in road traffic crashes in South Africa. The economic impact of road crashes in South Africa for 2005 is estimated at R43-billion.
While government has the responsibility to develop and implement strategies aimed at improving road safety, it is broadly recognized that road safety is a shared responsibility and the private sector, associations and other non-governmental entities have a vital role to play.
Mission Statement
- To promote and encourage road safety in all its aspects
- To participate in and support existing roads safety initiatives
- To establish, create and implement GRSP SA initiatives
- To involve those who wish to support the GRSP SA initiatives
- To use and implement, where practically feasible, international and national best practice
- To place the name of the GRSP SA clearly in public view in all our initiatives
Responsibility of Members of the GRSP ZA
The members of the GRSP ZA will contribute to the achievement of the mission of the GRSP ZA by Actively supporting and participating in implementation of identified projects.
Responsibilities of the GRSP ZA
The GRSP SA will provide partners with:
- Coordination of the road safety projects and coordination of related public relations activities
- Publication of an annual report on activities
- Proactive communication with media and government
- Regular updates on road safety strategies, priorities and programmes
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