International Transport Forum to develop Road Safety Strategy for Ukraine

The International Transport Forum (ITF), an organization uniting 69 countries, is launching a project to develop a ten-year National Road Safety Strategy for Ukraine. 

The initiative was requested by Ukraine’s Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, marking the first project under the Ministry’s cooperation with the ITF. 

The strategy will be developed through the ITF’s Common Interest Group for Transport in Ukraine (CIG4U) in collaboration with the road safety charity EASST (Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport).

The new National Road Safety Strategy aims to significantly reduce fatal accidents over the next decade. It will be based on the "Safe System Approach," a proven methodology that helps reduce severe traffic accidents and save lives. This approach emphasizes data-driven decision-making and shared responsibility between state institutions and society. 

According to the National Police, over 3,000 people died in road accidents in Ukraine in 2024. Additionally, data from the State Service of Ukraine for Transport Safety shows a nearly 25% increase in accidents involving licensed transport (trucks and buses) in 2024 compared to 2023. 

The Strategy will align with Ukraine’s National Transport Strategy until 2030, prioritizing road safety as a key factor for sustainable socio-economic development and the country’s recovery. 

A particular focus will be on accessibility, ensuring barrier-free transport infrastructure to provide people with limited mobility access to work, education, healthcare, and other services. 

Implementation of the National Road Safety Strategy is planned to begin in 2026. 

“Road safety is about the lives and health of Ukrainians. Developing and, most importantly, implementing this strategy will help prevent deaths and injuries on our roads. We see successful international examples of such strategies, proving their effectiveness and necessity. We are grateful to our partners from the ITF, particularly Sweden, for their readiness to collaborate on this project,” said Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development Serhii Derkach. 

“Sweden is proud to stand with Ukraine in building a safer transport future. The Safe System Approach stems from the belief that no death on the road is acceptable. The work on Ukraine’s new National Road Safety Strategy reflects our shared commitment to protecting lives even in the most challenging times,” said Sweden’s Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, co-chair of CIG4U, Andreas Carlson. 

“Every loss of life on Ukraine’s roads is a preventable tragedy. I am pleased that the ITF will support our trusted partner, Ukraine, in developing a new National Road Safety Strategy. It will lay the foundation for safer, more inclusive mobility and help preserve the most valuable thing—Ukrainian lives,” added ITF Secretary-General Young Tae Kim.