Exemplary road safety progress in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region

Many countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region have lessons to share in reducing road trauma. Their progress fits with the vital framework to strengthen road safety systems in the Region.

The United Arab Emirates was one of just 10 countries that reduced road fatalities by more 50% in the decade to 2021. Oman reduced deaths by more than 40%, Bahrain by more than 30%, and Iran (Islamic Republic of), Qatar and Saudi Arabia all reduced fatalities from road crashes by more than 20% in ten years.

In the lead up to the UN High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety, these countries, and many more, have insights and lessons to share with others that aim to achieve the global goal of a 50% reduction in road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

Kingdom of Morocco

The Kingdom of Morocco, hosts of the Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in 2025, have transformed traffic enforcement into a data-driven, targeted and better coordinated process.

Led by the National Road Safety Authority, traffic enforcement is integrated in the country's national road safety strategy and includes four big shifts:

• using crash data to target enforcement action;
• prioritizing proven risk factors like speeding, drink-driving and failing to use seatbelts and motorcycle helmets;
• applying new tools and technologies; and,
• working systematically across key authorities and agencies.

Morocco's experience shows that road safety enforcement plans must be fully embedded in a national road safety strategy with clear, quantified targets, if it is to succeed in reducing road fatalities.

Sultanate of Oman

The Sultanate of Oman has institutionalized road safety management by establishing a high-level National Road Safety Committee that coordinates all action. It also developed a comprehensive National Road Safety Strategy (2021-2030) with clear goals, full funding and good coordination.

Recommendations from the committee are prioritized by all sectors, and funds for specific activities were put though sectoral budgets with clear lines of accountability. The Committee monitors progress, coordinates and provides recommendations that all sectors must follow.

In addition, Oman recently won first prize in the International Road Federation's (IRF) Road Safety Awards. It's efforts to employ smart technologies and data integration and analysis that brings together road safety data from the police, health, insurance and judiciary was deemed exemplary.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia made road safety a national priority under its Vision 2030 initiative. It has adopted the WHO-recommended 'safe system' approach as the foundation for action. In line with this, the country built a road safety governance model based on strong leadership, coordination, accountability and data-driven decision-making. Key components include:

• establishing the Ministerial Committee for Traffic Safety as the highest coordination body;
• creating a dedicated General Secretariat responsible for coordination, monitoring and follow-up;
• creating specialized technical committees to address key priorities;
• activating regional road safety committees across the Kingdom;
• developing national performance indicators and monitoring tools;
• setting up clear reporting and accountability structures; and
• strengthening partnerships with international organizations, particularly WHO.

Saudi Arabia's new governance structure transformed road safety from a collection of isolated initiatives into a coordinated national programme that is focused on measurable outcomes and ongoing improvement. The model brings together decision-makers from the ministries of health, transport and the interior, as well local authorities, the education sector and the media.

Republic of Tunisia

The Republic of Tunisia has moved from reactive, ad-hoc actions to a strategic and multisectoral road safety strategy. The shift was underpinned by the establishment of a new national road safety observatory that is led by the Ministry of the Interior and brings together all relevant sectors.

The Observatory has set a new national framework and coordination structure, with clear roles and responsibilities for all related sectors. Better data helps direct resources to problem points, including monitoring vehicle safety standards and accelerating crash response times. The changes would not have been possible without political support from leaders, including the vision of the President and the Minister of the Interior.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has implemented a high-speed weigh-in-motion system at 14 strategic locations on federal roads. The automated system measures the weight of moving vehicles without requiring them to be manually checked. The UAE has a high proportion of heavy goods vehicles, and ensuring they are not overloaded reduces the risk of crashes.

Since early 2024 the project led to a 35% improvement in freight vehicle compliance rates, with nearly 100% accuracy. It has contributed to significant decrease in crashes involving heavy goods vehicles, with the national road fatality rate decreasing by 20% between 2021 and 2023.

Good road safety governance was key to ensuring the project's success. The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure is the lead authority, with the Federal Roads Control Centre supporting implementation.