2024 - The Government of Mexico, through the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) and iRAP announced the launch of MexiRAP to reduce high-risk highways in the country and reduce the 16,000 road deaths that occur annually.

The development of MexiRAP builds on the more than 140,000 km of partner-led iRAP assessments that have already been completed in the country and have influenced the safety of US$250 million of road infrastructure investment.

2024 - The Government of São Paulo, through the DER (Department of Highways), an agency linked to the Secretariat of Environment, Infrastructure and Logistics (Semil), and the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), announced the launch of BrazilRAP São Paulo, aimed at evaluating and improving the safety of state highways.

The first partnership of its kind signed by a state government (in Brazil and the world), the initiative will classify, using the iRAP methodology and tools applied in 126 countries, the degree of safety of São Paulo’s highways, serving as the basis for the São Paulo Road Safety Plan launched by the DER.

2024 - National assessment launches in Uruguay: An exciting iRAP project has officially launched in Montevideo, assessing Uruguay’s 8,700km road network and 54 schools, to identify and improve high-risk locations and safety for road users.

The Minister of Transport and Public Works, José Luis Falero, along with the Undersecretary Juan José Olaizola and the National Director of Roads, Hernán Ciganda, launched the project to Ministry of Transportation and Public Works (MTOP) officials, media and local stakeholders to share the project plans.

An estimated 447 people lose their lives each year in Uruguay due to road crashes, with a further 33,300 casualties. Road trauma costs the national economy US$2.6 billion annually (4.2% of GDP).

2024 - Building on efforts to prevent road crashes in school zones throughout Chile, Automóvil Club de Chile, in partnership with Buses Vule, has inaugurated a new school zone safety initiative in Lo Espejo and Puente Alto in 2024. This project is part of an ongoing plan to expand Star Rating for Schools (SR4S) assessments to create safer road environments for students nationwide.

With the technical support of Conaset, the Colegio San Lucas in Lo Espejo and the Colegio Senda del Saber in Puente Alto were chosen for interventions. These schools are located near the terminals operated by the public transport company Buses Vule in Santiago.

In the first half of 2024, safety measures implemented around Colegio San Lucas in Lo Espejo significantly improved the school’s road environment from 1.9 star to a 4.6 star.  Improvements included the installation of new signage and road markings, flashing beacons, marked pedestrian crossings with refuges, speed calming measures, and the reduction of the speed limit from 50 km/h to 30 km/h

2024 - Safer school zones in Bolivia: La Paz implements collaborative project for enhanced safety.

The FIA Region IV, supported by the FIA Foundation, launched a new project in 2023 to enhance school zone safety in Latin America. This initiative focuses on training local authorities to use the SR4S tool, providing funding for safety improvements, and fostering collaboration between stakeholders.

A prime example is the project in La Paz, Bolivia, where SR4S assessments are guiding targeted improvements at four schools to create safer environments for students.

2024 - Chile’s breathtakingly beautiful yet challenging southern transport corridors are getting a road safety overhaul. The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) contracted a consortium led by DDQ Engineering Consultants, along with APSA and iRAP, to conduct a comprehensive assessment across 1,907km of roads in the Magallanes, Aysén, and Los Lagos regions.

Leveraging iRAP’s robust Star Rating Methodology, the recently completed study evaluated 53 routes traversing some of the world’s most remote and scenic landscapes. The findings have yielded prioritized Safer Roads Investment Plans to cost-effectively upgrade these vital connectors.

The investment plans will guide MOP in making these routes safer for locals and visitors alike. Implementation is already underway, with 20 regional engineers completing comprehensive training to build long-term safety assessment and countermeasure capabilities.