Detailed View of Latin America & the Caribbean

In April 2007, Ricardo Sanchez, UNECLAC Economics Affairs Officer, provided a regional profile of road safety in Latin America and the Caribbean at the 2nd UN Stakeholders Forum on Global Road Safety in Geneva.

Here are the highlights of the region’s strengths, weaknesses, and greatest needs in the area of road safety.


lacRegional Strengths

  • Seat belt campaigns in some countries

  • Zero-tolerance strategies in some countries

  • Effective lead agencies in several countries

  • Regional Committee on road safety to promote intersectoral approach and regional collaboration.


Regional Weaknesses

  • Lack of education on major risk factors and magnitude of problem

  • Lack of safety culture

  • Absence of enforcement

  • Lack of adequate infrastructure

  • Absence of public transportation

  • Lack of financial commitment

  • Lack of leadership and continuity of political commitment

  • Lack of data


Greatest Regional Road Safety Needs

  • Institutionalize road safety

  • Develop national political commitment for policy development and budgetary funding

  • Surveillance systems, data collection

  • Intersectoral coordination

  • Improved enforcement

  • National and regional policy