The newly released Road Safety Manual (RSM) has been designed to assist countries at every stage of infrastructure development in achieving their road safety objectives. This comprehensive resource aligns with the key pillars of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, namely:

• Pillar 1: Multimodal transport and land use planning
• Pillar 2: Safe Road Infrastructure
• Pillar 4: Safe Road Use

Building on the broad range of knowledge and experience provided by PIARC in the first edition published in 2003, the fourth edition of the RSM incorporates new thinking on road safety and presents a compelling case for adopting a Safe System approach. This approach advocates for a more forgiving road system that accounts for human fallibility and vulnerability. It emphasizes shared responsibility for road safety outcomes among all stakeholders, including public agencies, automobile manufacturers, road users, and enforcement officials.

The updated RSM, released in May 2025, provides revisions to each chapter, incorporating new information and details. This update reflects current and widely accepted practices by revising relevant sections, chapters, and calculators with content and tools from the more technical 2003 version of the RSM.

Notably, the manual has received updates to reference materials and modifications across 12 chapters. Six technical studies and five technical sheets have been updated and are now available. Additionally, web-based calculators have been created and can be accessed through the links provided in the technical sheets and studies.

This fourth edition of the PIARC RSM is a crucial tool for countries aiming to enhance their road safety measures and achieve safer road systems worldwide. The USA and Canada provided funding and technical contributions to this project.

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