The value of statistical life in road safety: from methodology to policy

On September 21, 2026, GRSF participated in an online roundtable organized by the Eastern Partnership Road Safety Observatory on the economic cost of road traffic injuries. The webinar brought together policymakers, researchers, and road safety practitioners from across the Eastern Partnership region to explore how economic evidence can support road safety policy and investment decisions. Moderated by Tamar Sulukhia, Director of the International School of Economics (ISET) at Tbilisi State University and ISET Policy Institute, the roundtable featured presentations from Said Dahdah, Program Manager of the World Bank's Trust Funds for Safe and Sustainable Transport Unit; Mariam Lobjanidze, Data Team Lead at EaP RSO and Lead Economist at ISET Policy Institute; and Wim Wijnen of W2Economics. The session addressed the need for updated guidance on estimating the Value of a Statistical Life (VSL); the application of the methodology in countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Said Dahdah from the World Bank presented evidence of this burden and a unique methodology that helps countries assess the economic benefits of preventing road fatalities. The research paper behind the methodology received the Best Road Safety Idea Award at the 8th IRTAD Conference in April 2026. The methodology also underpins GRSF's Road Crash Cost Analysis Tool, which is already being applied in World Bank projects to inform investment decisions.