Transport specialists from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are in Brisbane this week for specialist road safety training, learning how to maximise infrastructure safety in projects financed by the Bank throughout the Asia Pacific.

iRAP Strategic Projects Manager Greg Smith said ADB is a major source of finance for new road construction and upgrades throughout Asia Pacific.

“Ensuring that roads are designed and constructed to a safe 3-star or better standard is essential to preventing road crashes and reducing road trauma.

“We are currently working with the ADB in countries such as Mongolia, Vietnam and Pakistan to help ensure that safety is a priority. The work is critical in the region’s effort to halve road deaths and serious injuries by 2020,” he said.

Approximately 15 ADB staff who are responsible for shaping bank loan investments will participate in the iRAP training seminar from 5-7 December, which will feature presentations by iRAP, Transport and Main Roads Queensland, ARRB, the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland, and RACQ.

Attendees will learn how to assess the inherent risk in road infrastructure, how iRAP assessments can support ADB projects and road safety audits, and how assessments can be procured. They will also hear from Queensland road safety leaders on the global context of road safety, managing a “safe system”, and working with road user groups to develop a positive culture for sharing the road.

Sessions will have a practical focus with attendees testing iRAP’s Star Rating Demonstrator and the new Star Rating for Schools app to rate local roads.

On Thursday, they will undertake a field trip to the Bruce Highway, to see first hand the Cooroy to Curra multi-billion road upgrade project which opened in May and has transformed one of the most dangerous stretches of highway to an exemplar 4-5 star standard.

Mr Smith said the Seminar presents an exciting opportunity for supporting ADB staff in their incorporation of road safety into the Bank’s loan project planning.

“It’s also a unique opportunity to showcase Queensland’s large-scale improvements in safety with innovative road designs, extensive use of best-practice management tools and progressive government policies.
“The road safety partnerships that exist between government, universities and NGOs in Queensland, and the road safety leadership occurring here, will be valuable for ADB staff to learn from.

Australia is one of 67 members of the ADB and has contributed $8.26 billion to ADB in capital subscription as of 31 December 2016. It has contributed and committed $2.14 billion to Special Funds since joining in 1966.