iRAP Global Projects Director Julio Urzua recently joined over 300 decisions-makers at Traffic Chile 2025 in Santiago, presenting a solutions focus to road infrastructure safety through use of the iRAP methodology and tools.

The conference organised by Mutual de Seguridad from 30 September to 1 October, aimed to promote the exchange of knowledge, showcase recent advances, integrate innovative technologies, and generate proposals to address current and future road safety challenges in the country.

Session themes focussed on governance and public policies in road safety, global trends and lessons learned, predictive technologies and systems applied to transportation, sustainable mobility and safe infrastructure, and citizen participation in the construction of a new road culture.

Among the authorities present were the Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Juan Carlos Muñoz , the Undersecretary of Transport, Jorge Daza, the Superintendent of Social Security (s), Patricia Soto , the Executive Secretary of CONASET, Luz Renata Infante Acevedo , and the President of Copsa Chile, Gloria Hutt. The event was led by the General Manager of Mutual de Seguridad, Felipe Bunster Echenique, together with Héctor Jaramillo and Luis Alberto Stuven Hurtado.

According to iRAP’s Safety Insights Explorer, achieving UN Target 4 for greater than 75% of travel on 3-star or better roads for all road users in Chile by 2030 stands to save an estimated 372 lives each year and 661,727 fatalities and injuries over the 20-year life of road treatments, with an economic benefit of USD$2.1 billion – $6.60 for every $1 spent.

Partner-led iRAP activity has already assessed 10,702 km of roads and designs, and 13 schools in Chile, influencing the safety of US$27 million of road infrastructure investment. This includes 1,907km of roads assessed in the Magallanes, Aysén and Los Lagos regions, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Works (MOP), DDQ Engineering Consultants, APSA and iRAP last year, helping to build local capacity and inform evidence-based road upgrades to save lives.

Other recent Chilean news:

• Celebrating a Safer Future: The opening of a 3-star or better Industrial Bridge in Biobío
• Aleatica Chile and the Automobile Club of Chile sign an agreement to scale up safer school journeys with Star Rating for Schools
• Américo Vespucio Oriente I (AVO I): Safety at heart of urban road concession design