Investing in Road Safety Can Boost Returns, Says New Global Infrastructure Report

Embedding road safety into transport infrastructure projects can increase financial returns for investors, according to a new report from the Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation (GIB), supported by the FIA Foundation.

The report argues that road safety should no longer be treated as a moral or regulatory “add-on,” but as a core investment metric alongside climate, resilience, and equity. With 1.2 million people killed on roads each year—equating to 1–3% of global GDP—the report stresses that every dollar spent on roads and mass transit should be “safety-tagged” to close the gap.

Avi Silverman, Acting Executive Director of the FIA Foundation, told Zag Daily:"There is a lack of awareness among investors about the returns safety investments can generate. This report is a call to action to the entire infrastructure and transportation financing ecosystem: mobilise capital for safer infrastructure to deliver stronger, measurable returns."

The report highlights practical ways to integrate safety across planning, procurement, and operations for highways, metro systems, and bus rapid transit networks.

For example, in Tianjin, China, investments in safe mobility around the metro—including wider sidewalks, well-lit crossings, cycle lanes, and integrated bus-metro-bike hubs—boosted ridership by up to 85%. Poor first- and last-mile conditions had previously limited usage despite the city’s extensive metro network.

In Colombia, the National Infrastructure Agency links concession payments to safety and service quality, penalising operators for accidents or closures. When the Puente El Alambrado bridge collapsed in 2023, the road operator Autopistas del Café faced direct financial consequences for the safety lapse. However, rapid emergency responses and strengthened protocols helped minimise traffic disruption, with volumes falling by just 2% year-on-year and avoiding further penalties.

The report highlights a “triple dividend” of safety-focused infrastructure:

1. Higher, more resilient revenues from fares and usage

2. Reduced operational and liability risks

3. Improved accessibility and equity for users

Louis Downing, CEO of GIB, said:"Markets scale what they can measure and trust. By setting safety targets up front, linking finance to verified performance, and adopting transparent metrics, safety becomes investable—reducing crashes, improving reliability, and strengthening long-term value."

Silverman added:"Investing in road safety isn’t just the right thing to do—it saves lives and delivers significant financial returns for investors."