Road safety leaders from 70 countries met in Westminster on 15 September for a global conference which focused on ‘eliminating risky road infrastructure’.
The conference, ‘A World Free of High Risk Roads’, was organised by the Road Safety Foundation, EuroRAP, the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) and FIA Foundation. It was held immediately prior to the opening of the FIA Mobility Conference 2015.
Measurements of the widely varying road infrastructure across 70 countries will be presented at the event, with the aim of winning commitments to raise infrastructure safety standards to 3-star or better.
Lord Robertson, the former NATO secretary general, will open the event and Jean Todt, the new UN special envoy for road safety, will deliver a keynote presentation.
Speakers from the UK include Lord Whitty, chairman of the Road Safety Foundation, Colin Matthews, chair of Highways England and the actress and road safety ambassador Michelle Yeoh who will address delegates by video.
Lord Robertson said: “Known high risks exist on major roads in all countries. Simple treatments – vaccines for roads – can eliminate high risk 1- and 2- star roads.
“Children should not walk to school on busy roads without footpaths and safe crossings; traffic should not pass through villages at high speed; flawed junctions and inadequate roadside safety zones need upgrading.
“This event will include commitments and calls from across the world to raise infrastructure safety to a 3-star minimum safety level for all road users whether in vehicles, cycling, or on foot.”
During the week following the conference, the United Nations will adopt a number of Sustainable Development Goals including a global commitment to halve road deaths by 2020.
Comment on this story