City joins the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety

04 September 2026

The City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate has joined the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety(BIGRS). The BIGRS is an initiative which supports a global network of more than 30 cities, to implement evidence-based interventions to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries.

The partnership will include technical assistance and training from experts in the world’s leading road safety organisations, which will greatly benefit the City’s Transport Planning and Network Management team as they implement Cape Town’s recently approved Road Safety Strategy. The City will be receiving four full-time professionals based at the City for a period of four years.

The projects which will stem from this new partnership, will be managed by the City’s Urban Mobility Directorate in close partnership with Traffic Services.

‘The launch of this exciting partnership is perfectly timed as our transport planning teams embark on the implementation of the City’s recently approved Road Safety strategy, which ultimately directs our efforts in making Cape Town’s roads safer and reducing the number of accidents and loss of life. The updated strategy addresses road safety for pedestrians, other non-motorised transport road users, and passengers, especially scholars and public transport users. We are aligned to what we know is one of the greatest drivers for the BIGRS, which is to assist cities in creating a transport system that allows people to move safely and efficiently,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.

‘We are thrilled to be in Cape Town this week to mark the start of our new partnership with the City of Cape Town. As BIGRS, we help cities across the world to implement a comprehensive package of activities proven to save lives with a strong focus on enhancing data collection and surveillance, changing road user behaviour, and improving road infrastructure. We are certain that Cape Town will achieve great success in their efforts over the next few years and plan to support the team with the experience and resources we have to offer,’ said the Director of Injury Prevention and BIGRS, Kelly Larson.

The City is responsible for leading the development, coordination, and oversight of road safety initiatives. Through the implementation of the Road Safety Strategy, the City will continue prioritising interventions, such as safer pedestrian crossings, traffic calming measures, improved road safety around schools, safer walking and cycling environments, public awareness campaigns, and targeted enforcement in high-risk locations.

‘In a few years’ time, we want to see a stronger road safety culture here in Cape Town with fewer serious injuries and lives lost to accidents that were in fact preventable on many occasions. We are grateful to the BIGRS and look forward to working with the various road safety experts. I can’t wait to see all the innovative projects that have already been implemented successfully abroad, and which ones could be implemented here to keep Cape Town moving safely,’ said Quintas.

Residents can be assured that the progress with the programmes that emanate from this partnership will be tracked and the City will ensure that interventions and resources are directed towards areas where there is the greatest need.

End