The First Decade of Action for Road Safety in the Republic of Moldova (2011–2020) was marked by concerted efforts and close collaboration among various stakeholders to enhance road safety at the national level. Moldova’s activities and intentions were globally integrated into the United Nations’ Decade of Action for Road Safety, launched in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) for the 2011–2020 period. The primary goal of this initiative was to reduce road crashes and fatalities by 50% through a series of national measures in every participating country.

Alongside other nations, Moldova committed to addressing road safety negligence and prioritized these efforts, recognizing road-related fatalities and injuries as barriers to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

The 2023 Global Status Report on Road Safety, published by WHO, provides an overview of current road safety data for each country while also offering a retrospective analysis of the First Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011–2020) and the progress made toward reducing road traffic deaths.

The report highlights ten countries that successfully achieved the 50% reduction target, proving that such a reduction is attainable within a decade. An additional 15 countries, including Moldova, came very close, reducing road deaths by 40–49%. In 2010, Moldova had one of the highest road mortality rates in Europe.

Experts from the Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport (EASST), with support from the FIA Foundation Advocacy Hub, developed a case study report exploring how Moldova, Europe’s poorest country, managed to achieve a consistent decline in road crashes and casualties over the decade, nearly meeting the global goal of halving road fatalities.

The report attributes Moldova’s success to a collaborative, multidimensional approach, with the government working closely alongside civil society organizations. Notably, the report outlines the leading role played by the Automobile Club of Moldova (ACM) and the key areas of focus during this period, including advocacy, police reform, road safety management, occupational road safety, post-crash response, and road safety education, all interconnected within a comprehensive safe system approach.

The Automobile Club of Moldova (ACM), with its extensive experience and essential role in promoting mobility and responsible road behavior, was a key organization driving projects and initiatives to move the needle on road safety. Supported by its partners, ACM demonstrated a strong commitment to reducing road casualties and raising awareness among all road users during this time.

Throughout the decade, ACM implemented innovative projects and worked closely with the Moldovan government, civil society organizations, the media, and development partners to advance Moldova’s road safety standing. For its significant contributions, ACM’s efforts were recognized internationally on three occasions: twice with the prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Award and with the FIA President’s Road Safety Award in 2023.

These accolades underscore the exceptional efforts of a small but dedicated team to deliver visible results across various aspects of road user safety, particularly for vulnerable groups.

The projects implemented during this period included advocacy campaigns for legislative reforms, such as proper child car seat usage and establishing 30 km/h speed limits near schools; creating road safety training grounds; hosting hundreds of educational seminars for teachers, parents, and children; improving pedestrian crossings to enhance accessibility; conducting informational sessions for professional drivers; public awareness campaigns promoting road safety; distributing reflective materials; producing social video and audio clips; and organizing global initiatives like the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims and the UN Global Road Safety Week, among others.

Simultaneously, road safety topics gained increasing coverage in TV/radio shows and newspapers, reflecting a significant shift in societal attitudes toward road safety. These initiatives raised awareness and fostered the development of a road safety culture in Moldova, which had been virtually non-existent in the past.

As Moldova embarks on the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety, the country continues to make progress and set new standards in road safety. Stricter policy implementation, best practices, and public education remain essential for achieving the ultimate goal of zero road fatalities.