On the methods of road safety interventions in developing countries : knowledge transfer from a policy perspective.

Developed countries have had a number of years head-start on the design and development of road safety interventions when compared to least-developed countries. Consequently and fortunately, most least developed countries (LDCs) can now look to more developed countries for potential technology transfer solutions: policy-makers in LDCs can benefit from the successes (and mistakes) of developed countries. In adopting road safety solutions from developed countries, however, LDC policy-makers must consider the policy instruments and institutions at their disposal. Successful knowledge transfer involves the careful selection not only of proven products and processes, but of the methods of their implementation. In particular, the institutional differences between developed and developing countries are essential variables which if not effectively accounted for can lead to policy failure even when the technology involved has been thoroughly tested. This paper argues that successful knowledge transfer requires a clear understanding of the available implementation methods and, for this reason, an overview of current literature regarding public policy transfer and diffusion is presented, with particular emphasis on the role of institutions in the policy implementation process. To illustrate and accentuate the two central factors of the technology transfer process, the theoretical concept of twin loops is set out. The twin loops represent: (1) the product or procedure; and (2) the method by which the technology is to be implemented. The method loop is likely to pose the greater challenge for policy-makers because, while proven road safety products and processes are likely to require few adjustments before being transferred to LDCs, the implementation method options vary considerably with institutional differences.(A). For the covering abstract of the conference see E216632.