Jacobs signs #SaferRoadsPledge reinforcing its commitment to safer road design worldwide

Rob McInerney AO, iRAP’s Chief of Future Impact and Troy Dunne, Jacobs’ Vice President and Executive Director of Operations – ANZ Transport, Resources and Engineering Solutions, sign the #SaferRoadsPledge

In a signing event in Brisbane today, Jacobs signed the global #SaferRoadsPledge, reinforcing its commitment to safer road design and advancing critical road safety outcomes worldwide.

Jacobs, a leader in engineering, construction and scientific services with offices in more than 40 countries, joins the worldwide campaign which has already garnered pledges from 68 countries.

The pledges support ongoing discussions with road designers, financiers and road design software providers for initiatives and programmes which embed safer standards in road designs, projects and policies to save lives.

iRAP Star Ratings provide an objective measure of the level of safety which is ‘built-in’ to the road through more than 50 road attributes that influence risk for vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. 1-Star roads have the highest risk and 5-Star roads the lowest risk. The #SaferRoadsPledge supports a safety rating of 3-stars or more.

iRAP, the International Road Federation (IRF) and FIA Foundation launched the #SaferRoadsPledge campaign ahead of the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety held in Marrakech in February 2025, calling on organizations involved in designing and financing roads to pledge their commitment for safer roads.

The initiative is guided by the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 which recommends using road safety audits and star ratings to improve the safety of roads and designs. United Nations 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 roads with the equivalent of 3-stars or higher for all road users by 2030.

Leaders from across the world gathered at the Ministerial Conference to assess progress made in implementing the Global Plan for the Decade of Action during its initial five-year period and generate support for the new vision of safe and sustainable mobility.

With just four years remaining and the recent launch of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport 2026-2035, commitments to accelerate the transition toward road systems that are safer, more inclusive and greener for all have never been more important.

“Road crashes tragically claim a life every two minutes, and they remain the leading cause of death among young people,” said iRAP Chief of Future Impact Rob McInerney AO. “Time is running out to achieve the UN’s goal of halving road deaths and injuries by 2030. Urgent action and commitment are vital to improving road safety.”

“At Jacobs, safety is fundamental to how we deliver for our clients and communities,” said Jacobs’ Senior Vice President Camille McGregor. “By joining the #SaferRoadsPledge, we’re reinforcing our commitment to designing and delivering transport systems that protect lives, strengthen resilience and support safer mobility for every road user, everywhere.”

Evidence shows that increasing the Star Rating of a road by a single star can halve crash costs – and that roads with at least 3-stars have the potential to significantly reduce fatalities and injuries. An independent study by Johns Hopkins University has found that iRAP partners worldwide have saved an estimated 860,000 fatalities and serious injuries through investment in safer road projects from 2016 through the end of 2025 using the iRAP tools.

Jacobs encourages organizations across the transport ecosystem to join the #SaferRoadsPledge and champion safer, more inclusive mobility for all.

See the organisations who’ve already pledged, and organizations and individuals wishing to join them can do so at the campaign website irap.org/pledge.