IRF strives for improved road safety

The latest in the series of major road safety conferences hosted by IRF’s India Chapter will take place in New Delhi from 1-2 November 2012, with the focus on Urban and Rural Roads

Each day, thousands of people are injured or killed on roads around the world. According to the World Bank, “the social and economic losses from road deaths and injuries in low and middle-income countries are projected to be on a catastrophic scale. . .” Globally, road injuries and deaths are due to a number of factors. This understanding forms the basis of the Global Plan for the UN 3439 Decade of Action for Road Safety and its focus on five key pillars: Road Safety Management; Safer Roads & Mobility; Safer Vehicles; Safer Road Users, and Post-Crash Response. The 713 International Road Federation is dedicated to supporting the UN Decade of Action and to making substantial contributions under Pillar 2:  Safer Roads & Mobility.

Worldwide, there has been a steady increase in the number of vehicles on the road.  In the face of limited road space already used by a large variety of motorised and non-motorised traffic, there is a heightened need and urgency for national-level action plans on the issue of road safety. For its part, the Government of India (GoI) has accorded road safety a high priority. 

For its Twelfth Five-Year Plan (2012-17), the GoI has allocated nearly US$200 billion for road development. The Plan contemplates capacity augmentation of the road network – already the second largest in the world, totalling 3.3 million km - by widening existing roads, constructing new roads, developing expressways, and promoting state-of-the-art technologies in design and construction. Overall, the Plan envisages a significant role – around 50% - for private sector participation. In all of these key measures, the GoI envisages involving the range of stakeholders (government, concessionaires, contractors, consultants, equipment manufacturers, etc.) in addressing all-important road safety issues.   

Regional Response, Global Outreach

On 1-2 November 2012, the International Road Federation’s India Chapter will organise the 7th IRF Regional Conference: Road Safety in Urban and Rural Roads. To be held in New Delhi, the conference aims to share knowledge, raise awareness and propagate best practices in road safety. Based on the core mission of IRF and its commitment under the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety, the conference will deliberate on several key themes, including:

• Road safety policy for urban and rural areas
•  Planning and design of infrastructure for road safety
• Establishment of institutional road safety management mechanisms
• Road user behaviour and road safety
• Road safety public education and campaigns
• Emergency services systems for accident victims
• Vehicle safety and I&M Regime
• Enforcement of road safety and PPP potential
• Application of ITS for safety
• Funding issues for road safety
  

The conference will include a number of speakers of national and international repute including Mr. Marc H. Juhel of the World Bank and Dr. Prajapati Trivedi, Secretary, Performance Management, GoI. The conference speakers are all actively engaged in various functional areas within the global road safety community. 

The conference is expected to bring together stakeholders from throughout the global road transport planning & development and road safety sectors. In particular, a number of key concessionaires, contractors, consultants, equipment manufacturers, and NGOs will be in attendance. Coupled with a strong slate of renowned speakers, IRF expects robust and fruitful deliberation on the aforementioned themes as well as opportunities for one-on-one interaction with experts and conference participants and speakers.  
In addition, the conference will have exhibition space for 40 stalls. These exhibition spaces are available for hire and will serve as an opportunity to highlight the latest developments in traffic safety technologies, road safety initiatives and other cutting-edge information.

The Conference is supported by 'the GoI's Ministries of Road Transport & Highways; Urban Development, and Rural Development. In addition, representatives from leading agencies and international organisations will be in attendance, including: State Secretaries of Transport and Public Works; the Director General of Police, officials from several Indian municipalities; the Director General of the National Rural Development Authority; the 2332 World Bank; the 943 Asian Development Bank, and several Chambers of Commerce.