Road Safety
Asia at the Turning Point
November 18, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BALI, Indonesia — On day two of the IRF Asia Regional Congress, road safety agency heads and stakeholders from Asian nations joined in a high-level roundtable at the invitation of the International Road Federation.
Setting the stage for the discussion, the World Bank’s Tawia Addo-Ashong observed that low- and middle-income countries account for a staggering 90 percent of global deaths from road crashes. By 2020, car sales will reach 120 million per year with emerging markets taking a 61 percent share. Within this context, Asia stands at a crossroads. “Asia needs a strong road safety voice,” Ms. Addo-Ashong said. “Lead road safety agencies should be established if they do not already exist, or strengthened, in order to lead sustained safety improvements in Asian countries,” she added.
Michael Dreznes, IRF executive vice president, said, “Ministers did not just sign another piece of paper in 2011, they also made a strong commitment towards road safety and the goals of halving road deaths”. In 2015, Transport Ministers will meet for another high-level global conference on road safety to take stock of progress and remaining challenges in implementing the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety 2011-2015.
During the roundtable, Indonesian agency heads underlined how political leadership had reversed a deteriorating situation. A master plan adopted in 2013 has translated into specific programs covering among others safer road planning, roadside activities and speed management. Several pilot projects are currently underway to assess effective speed reduction strategies.
Iranian Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development Davood Kesharvazian noted that his government had adopted a strategic plan engaging all relevant agencies under a better integrated management, leading to a 35 percent reduction in traffic fatalities at a time of growing motorization.
“Countries with results are those that have embraced the safe system approach and engaged their political leadership,” Dreznes concluded. “If something is important to you, you will find a way.”
The 1st IRF Asia Regional Congress & Exhibition runs November 17-19, 2014. Live updates are available from IRF’s social media channels (@IRFhq #AsiaRC).
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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_separator color=”grey”][vc_raw_html]JTNDYnIlM0UlMEElM0NiciUzRQ==[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]The International Road Federation, founded in 1948, is a not-for-profit, non-political organization with the mission to encourage and promote development and maintenance of better, safer and more sustainable roads and road networks. With a membership network in 90 countries across six continents, the IRF believes it can make a difference by providing best practices and expert advice to today’s multi-faceted world of transport.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]Related Posts
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