The launch of and panel discussion about Cities Safer by Design, a global reference guide to help cities save lives from traffic fatalities through improved street design and smart urban development.

The event included a presentation on the new guide and feature a high level panel to discuss and explore how cities can implement and scale up safer design that results in better quality of life for all urban dwellers across the world.

Presenter

Ben Welle, Senior Associate, Health & Road Safety, EMBARQ initiative, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, World Resources Institute

Panelists

  • Ellis Juan, General Coordinator, Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative, Inter-American Development Bank
  • Rob Puentes, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
  • Marc Shotten, Senior Transport Specialist, The World Bank
  • Claudia Adriazola-Steil, Director, Health & Road Safety, EMBARQ Initiative, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, World Resources Institute

The session was moderated by Clayton Lane, Deputy Director, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, World Resources Institute

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Share the report with the hashtag: #saferbydesign.

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About the report

The Cities Safer by Design hands-on guide taps examples from cities worldwide and includes 34 different design elements to improve safety and quality of life. The research shows that traffic safety can be improved in cities two ways. First, by providing an urban environment that reduces the need for driving; and second, by making areas where vehicles and people mix as safe as possible by reducing speeds through design to safer levels and prioritizing pedestrians and cyclists.

The report describes on-the-ground examples from Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Istanbul, New York City and Paris. Key findings from the report cover urban design, traffic calming, key considerations for arterials and intersections, pedestrian facilities, bicycling networks and access to public transport.