iRAP, International Road Federation (IRF) and FIA Foundation have launched the #SaferRoadsPledge campaign calling on organisations involved in designing and financing roads to pledge their commitment for safer roads ahead of the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety.

From 17-20 February 2025, leaders from across ​the world will gather at the Ministerial ​Conference in Morocco. They will assess progress made in ​implementing the Global Plan for the Decade of ​Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 during its initial ​five-year period, and generate support for the ​new vision of safe and sustainable mobility.

iRAP CEO Rob McInerney said, “Tragically, more than 3,200 people lose their lives on our roads every day. Road crashes are the leading cause of death for young people. We know road infrastructure rated 3-star or better for safety saves lives and prevents injuries, yet sadly less than half of roads assessed globally meet this standard. We have just five years to reach the UN global target of halving road ​deaths and injuries by 2030 and accelerated action ​on safer roads will be crucial. Aurecon’s leadership and commitment today is to be applauded.”

Nial O’Brien, Global Capability Leader for Roads at Aurecon said, “Safety of roadways is of critical importance with road trauma leaving lasting physical and psychological impacts that go against many aspects of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  The iRAP system allows us to conduct Star Rating Assessments of proposed new and upgraded road designs, enabling us to measure our effectiveness and contribute towards achieving the objectives of the SDGs.”

The Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety recommends using Road Safety Audits and Star Ratings to lift the safety of roads and designs.  UN Road Safety Performance Targets 3 and 4 include ensuring all new roads are built to a 3-star or better standard for all road users, and more than 75% of travel is on the equivalent of 3-star or better roads for all road users by 2030.

In support of the SDGs and Targets, road design and financing institutions from the government and private sector are called on to include Road Safety Audits, Inspections and Star Rating Assessments for new and improved road designs, and/or to undertaking crash-risk mapping and proactive safety assessments and inspections that target investment in safer infrastructure and safer speeds to meet at least a standard of 3-stars or better for all road users by 2030.

Evidence shows that ​lifting the Star Rating of a road by a single ​star can halve ​crash costs and that safer 3-star or better roads for all will save lives and is cost effective. The independent study by Johns Hopkins University has found that iRAP partners worldwide have saved an estimated 700,000 ​fatalities and serious injuries through investment in safer road projects ​from 2016 to the end of 2024 using the iRAP tools.

“We look forward to seeing more organisations and individuals joining Aurecon in making the pledge, calling for global leadership for safer roads and designs,” Mr McInerney said.

Pledges made during the campaign will be presented to ​global leaders during the Ministerial Conference to support advocacy for, and investment in safer roads at the highest level.

They will also be presented at the IRF World Congress in Istanbul from 14-18 October, where safe roads and designs will be an important focus at a High-level Roundtable: Shaping the Future of Road Designs for Safe and Sustainable Mobility that will convene leaders in road infrastructure development to tackle the challenge of closing the road safety gap by 2030.

Organisations and individuals wishing to make a #SaferRoadsPledge, can do so at the campaign website irap.org/pledge.

Images below: Official announcement today from Aurecon Australasia office in Brisbane, Queensland. (with iRAP CEO Rob McInerney and Aurecon’s Global Capability Leader for Roads Nial O’Brien)

At left (L to R): Rob McInerney, iRAP; Jessica Holz, Associate – Sustainable Design, Aurecon; and Nial O’Brien, Global Capability Leader – Roads, Aurecon. Images credit: iRAP and Aurecon