United Nations' General Assembly approves first ever conference on road safety

On Monday, March 31, 2008, the United Nations heard the alarming statistics that many in the road industry already know too well: more than 1.2 million die on the world's road each year; more than 50 million are injured; and, road accidents are the leading cause of death among people aged 10-24. And now, the UN has decided to finally do something.

It was approved at the UN General Assembly that a road safety conference will be held in 2009 in Russia. The goal of the meeting is purportedly to gather together high-ranking ministers of transport and health from most of the U.N.'s member states who will discuss road safety issues and should hopefully spur real change.

The IRF applauds and fully supports the UN resolution and the upcoming conference. It is much needed and long over due. As government officials and policy makers come together to combat this epidemic, IRF encourages all to remember that road safety isn't just about driver bahvior - wearing seat belts, driving slower, not driving intoxicated.

Road safety needs a three-pronged approach - the driver, the vechicle and the road.

Although a sweeping change in driver behavior would do much to curb the current carnage on the road, it is not an all inclusive solution. Vehicles need to be safer and the roads certainly should plan for accidents. For no matter how safe a driver or secure the vehicle, humans will always make mistakes and vehicles can malfunction. And the road should be designed, built, and equipped in order to forgive that mistake, and mediate vehicle failure.

An all-inclusive approach to road safety should include the transfer of technology and the proper training to implement such technologies, including such topics as, but not limited to:

• Roadside Safety & Median Application
• Proper Vertical & Horizontal Signage – Delineation and Illumination
• Work Zone Safety
• Intersection and Roundabout Safety
• Low Cost Safety Improvements
• Pedestrian Safety
• Safety Technology Concepts
• Traffic Calming
• Enforcement
• Safety Audits
• Collection and Use of Statistics

What other problem areas can we improve in order to build better, safer roads?

IRF-Washington creates road safety working group

In order to combat the growing epidemic of road fatalities and injuries on roads around the world, the IRF-Washington Road Safety Working Group brings members together to present road safety position statements and policies that can be endorsed by the entire IRF organization and publicized worldwide and implemented with the IRF’s support.

The Road Safety Working Group is open to all IRF members who have an interest in road safety. The Road Safety Working Group meets once a year and holds two or three conference calls during any twelve month period. During these meetings and conference calls, ideas, opinions, and information are exchanged in order to capture all views of any given topic. This all-inclusive approach ensures that IRF-Washington policy statements on road safety will be a sound, diverse representation of the worldwide road building community.

Once the IRF-Washington Road Safety Working Group finalizes a policy statement, the proposed policy statements are presented to the IRF Council on Road Safety (the consortium of Road Safety Working Groups from Brussels, Geneva and Washington) for their endorsement and support. During the meeting of the IRF Council on Road Safety, all working group members have the opportunity to speak on behalf of the proposed policy statement. Once the statement (or white paper) is approved by the Council, IRF presents the approved policy during a ministerial meeting to key government decision makers from around the world. Currently, IRF has more than 70 ministries and road directorate members. Road Safety Working Group members may be invited to meet with the ministers to discuss the policy statement.

If the IRF Council on Road Safety does not endorse a position statement from one of the Road Safety Working Groups, the Road Safety Working Group is allowed to publicize the position statement with the clear designation that the position statement is only supported by the single Program Center and not by the IRF as a whole.

Upcoming position statements include, but are not limited to:

• The need for on-going road safety training as it relates to roadside safety, intersection/roundabout safety, vulnerable user safety, work zone safety, driver education, enforcement techniques and road safety audit
• Motorcycle use continues to grow around the world and motorcycle accidents and fatalities continue to rise at an alarming number. How can road authorities modify their road design, education and enforcement procedures to reduce these fatalities?
• Congestion in municipal areas is worse than ever causing safety, productivity, and environmental concerns. What innovative concepts should be considered to alleviate congestion in municipalities?
• Poles located close to the road can be extremely dangerous. The use of breakaway devices and other technologies to make these rigid roadside hazards less dangerous by allowing the vehicles to pass through should be endorsed and encouraged. What can be done to promote the expanded use of these safety features?

Members of the IRF-Washington Road Safety Working Group will be able to effect real change in the world. This is a great opportunity to have an attentive audience of key governmental decision makers around the world who will hear the voice of the industry and listen to your counsel.

Join the IRF-Washington Road Safety Working Group