iRAP and AusRAP were delighted to welcome Korean partners to Australia this week to showcase learnings to aid the development of KoRAP.

Nine delegates from Seoul National University (SNU), Naeil Engineering and Consultants, Road Korea, Mim Lab and Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements joined the five day programme in Brisbane and Melbourne.

The Korean Government has endorsed the development of a road assessment programme for Korea (KoRAP) with national research and development funds and a national highway study over four years.

The project will be led by Professor Sangjin Han from SNU and require an update to the road act to incorporate the iRAP Methodology.

Sangjin is a member of iRAP’s Global Technical Committee and previously worked for the Korea Transport Institute (KOTI), one of iRAP’s 11 Centres of Excellence helping to shape the evidence-based global road infrastructure safety standard and tools.

The Australian visit commenced in Brisbane with an AiRAP showcase provided by iRAP, Anditi and Retina Visions. The latest exciting developments in the ‘accelerated and intelligent’ capture of road safety-related data were shared as well as progress in world-leading AiRAP projects in the country.

ARRB NTRO hosted a full-day workshop in Brisbane with presentations by iRAP, NTRO and RACQ on the iRAP Methodology and tools, and their application in Queensland. Global resources to support the development of KoRAP were shared, as well as best practice case studies from other countries as models of success.

The group enjoyed a visit to Transurban’s Control Centre and tour of Brisbane infrastructure assets including the toll roads, tunnels and motorways of Legacy Way, the Clem 7, Airport Link and Gateway.

Travelling on to Melbourne, the group visited the Road to Zero Experience at Melbourne Museum and enjoyed a full-day workshop with Victorian AusRAP partners including presentations by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) Victoria, Transurban and ARRB NTRO Victoria.

AusRAP developments and the Safer Roads Programme were shared, as well as the Victorian AiRAP technology and methodology pilot study, state and local roads assessments, and Victorian innovations and applications helping to maximise AusRAP benefits.

The group enjoyed a visit to Transurban’s Head Office to learn about their national Star Rating KPIs, Victorian network management and future plans. Transurban has achieved iRAP Certification for a 4-star safety rating on its network by vehicle kilometres travelled, exceeding the National Road Safety Target.

Thanks to ARRB NTRO (Dave Milling, Emily McLean), RACQ (Greg Miszkowycz), Transurban (Liz Waller, David Beck, Andrew Eckersley), TAC (Sam Cockfield, John Matta), DTP (Matt Allan), Anditi (Peter Jamieson) and Retina Visions (Michael Cybulski) for their support of the Korean delegation visit.

Professor Han extended his appreciation to iRAP and AusRAP partners for their warm welcome and the many learnings being taken home to inform Korea’s iRAP study and development of KoRAP.

“Passion is spreading fast among people. iRAP is working with passion, and it spreads its value of making roads free of fatalities fast worldwide. During this week we are moved by the passion of iRAP, particularly by Rob, Greg and Judy. Our delegation is saying that they now know what they need to do to make the Korean Road Assessment Programme better, and to contribute to the world free of high-risk roads,” Professor Han said.

iRAP Chief Executive Officer Rob McInerney said, “Our relationship with Professor Han and his involvement in the development of the iRAP model has extended over many years. We very much look forward to working with our Korean RAP family to support the launch of KoRAP. Since 2018, Korea’s road traffic fatalities have halved. We look forward to also learning from their experience and innovation that can be incorporated into the global programme. Shared knowledge and shared success is key to iRAP’s global partnerships and the connection between KoRAP and AusRAP partners will help save lives in both countries and around the world.”

According to the iRAP Safety Insights Explorer, achieving UN Target 4 for greater than 75% of travel on 3-star or better roads for all road users in Korea by 2030 stands to save an estimated 242,081 fatalities and serious injuries over the 20-year life of road treatments with an economic benefit of USD$122.7 billion to the economy.

Image credit: iRAP