Evidence and Road Safety Policy

Fred Wegman is a thinker in residence who has been engaged by the SA Government - he is a road safety expert - and he is asking questions about how to improve things. Check out the commentary here ;-)

My contribution below.

"Fascinating isn't it how so many commentators here provide their opinion on how to fix the road safety problem. Let’s not collect the data, let’s not then analyse it and find the options for implementation - hell no lets jump right in and talk about the solution ;-)

So I congratulate you on your efforts to ask questions and understand the nature of the problem and the issues in the local context. Culture is likely to be a big part of the problem - and also a big part of the solution ;-)

But there is one key thing that will make sure that we end up with a *real* solution. Data. The single most important thing that will make a difference is data - its collection and analysis and subsequently the "evidence based policy" that is built upon it.

So may I suggest that if you have any ability to influence the local system then it will be of great benefit if you can help introduce a culture of real *data collection* and *analysis* - and help ensure it is a scientific one? And preferably one that makes the data available for external analysis - to validate the decisions that are made with it.

As opposed to what happens now which is mostly about pandering to popularism.

An evidence based road safety programme will save lives - because it will be based on facts. Everything else is based on emotion and opinion and political expediency".