The Cayman Islands National Roads Authority (NRA) have announced a launch of an International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) exercise, called “The next generation of road assessment”.

“The Cayman Islands recorded nine (9) road traffic deaths in 2011, equivalent to approximately 16.5 traffic deaths per 100,000 inhabitants and almost double the WHO’s 2013 figure of 8.7 traffic deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in High Income countries.

Between 2007 and 2011, an average of over 1,400 accidents were recorded on Cayman Island roads per year, resulting in 40 deaths and 113 serious injuries.

These incidents translate into lost productivity, medical expenses and grief. New road construction or rehabilitation projects in the Cayman Islands incorporate road safety feature into their design, however there remains a myriad of associated difficulties related to road infrastructure, institutional capacity, inadequate equipment, vehicle quality and driver behavior.”

This is where iRAP (International Road Assessment Programme), the next generation of road assessment, has an important role to play.  iRap has identified cost effective and often simple infrastructure improvements that can typically prevent one in four deaths on rural and urban roads.

The iRAP plan targets roads where pedestrians, motorcyclists, car occupants and bicyclists are killed and injured with brutal regularity.

The plans identify proven road safety measures that can prevent millions of deaths and save billions of dollars around the world.”

A specialised truck will be used to do the road safety assessment.

PHOTO: A typical IRAP truck operator’s cabin