Reliable and accurate data are also needed to correctly identify problems, risk factors and priority areas, and to formulate strategy, set targets and monitor performance. Ongoing, data-led diagnosis and management of the leading road traffic injury problems enables appropriate action and resource allocation. Without this, there will be no significant, sustainable reductions in exposure to crash risk or in the severity of crashes.

The manual begins with a discussion of why good data are important for road safety management, and what kinds of data are required for effective planning and monitoring. It guides users through the process of conducting a situational assessment to identify relevant stakeholders, existing data sources and systems (along with their strengths and limitations), the needs of end-users, and relevant political factors and resource availability. It then describes the steps needed to establish a working group and use the situational assessment to choose the best course of action.