Human rights jurisprudence and road safety outcomes: the ECtHR's impact on European traffic policy

Seyed Hesamoddin Lesani

doi:10.55329/fvea6179

Authors

Seyed Hesamoddin Lesani Hazrat-e Masoumeh University, Iran

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55329/fvea6179

Keywords:

Article 2 ECHR, European Court of Human Rights, human rights, positive obligations, road safety, Smiljanić v. Croatia, transport policy

Abstract

This article examines the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) approach to enhancing road safety across Europe in implementing the right to life under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. By analyzing formative judgments such as Smiljanić v. Croatia, this article demonstrates that the Court has slowly begun recognizing road traffic risks as an issue impacting the right to life by imposing substantive and procedural positive obligations on states. This article argues that the ECtHR's jurisprudence establishes structural standards to prevent dangerous driving, build public confidence, and ensure that states can build their capacity for preventative work in the area of road safety.

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Author Biography

Seyed Hesamoddin Lesani, Hazrat-e Masoumeh University, Iran

Hesamoddin Lesani (PhD) is a legal scholar and professor specializing in international human rights and International humanitarian law. He is currently Associate Professor of International Law at Hazrat-e-Masoumeh University in Iran. His recent research focuses on the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights and the intersection of human rights with public policy of European states.

CRediT contribution: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing.

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