New Russian Road Safety Strategy includes key WHO recommendations

Road safety in the Russian Federation is considered as a national security issue and is included in the country's national development goals. The National Strategy for Improving Road Safety in the Russian Federation until 2030 and for the future until 2036 was approved by the President of the Russian Federation in November 2025. It includes the proven, WHO-recommended 'safe systems' approach to road safety.

The goal is to reduce the number of deaths from road crashes in the Russian Federation by half by the year 2036 when compared to 2023 levels. The approval of the document by the Head of State brings the issue of road safety to a new level and will make it possible to utilize all available resources to achieve its goals.

The safe systems approach to road safety accepts that humans will always make mistakes, and so designs roads, vehicles and speeds around the limits at which the human body can survive a crash. It aligns with the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety, which offers a blueprint for countries to meet the global goal of a 50% reduction in road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.

"We congratulate the Russian Government for the adoption of this exemplary national road strategy. It is grounded in strong evidence, global best practices and broad consultations. It brings together the different layers of protection needed to prevent deaths and serious injuries from road crashes, including safe roads and roadsides, safe speeds, safe vehicles, safe road users, effective post-crash care, strong data systems and clear institutional coordination," said WHO Technical Officer Tatiana Kolpakova, at a meeting in Moscow to plan for the implementation of the strategy on 21 May 2026.

The Russian Government approved the Road Safety Strategy Implementation Plan in May 2026. It contains 266 measures in the following areas:

• improving the efficiency of traffic safety management and road user safety
• strengthening vehicle safety and services in the transport sector
• improving the safety of road infrastructure and increasing responses to road crashes.

The implementation plan was developed based on a risk-based approach, included detailed analysis of key statistical data. It places a priority on protecting vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycle riders. It includes new measures on key risk factors including drink driving, non-compliance with speed limits, the use of child safety restraints and motorcycle helmets.

Russia is one of only ten countries that managed to reduce road deaths by 50% in the decade to 2021 and has played a leading role in advancing global road safety in recent years. The first-ever global ministerial conference on road safety was held in Moscow in 2009, and the resulting Moscow Declaration called for strong government leadership and coordination, better data systems, a focus on the most vulnerable road users, and better laws and enforcement.

"Road deaths are preventable. Russia's experience, and the country's new national road safety strategy, has lessons to share. WHO is ready to assist with implementation however we can," said Tatiana Kolpakova.