We’re proud to support a new Ibero-American Index on Safe Mobility (IIMS) which aims to tackle the growing road safety crisis in the region, launched last week during the General Assembly of the Ibero-American Road Safety Observatory (OISEVI) in Madrid.
Le Recovering Hope: New Narrative and Ibero-American Index on Safe Mobility (IIMS) was coordinated by Fundación MAPFRE, led by the Ibero-American Federation of Victims against Road Violence (FICVI), and developed in collaboration with OISEVI and nearly 40 lead road safety agencies including iRAP.
The report highlights that an estimated 144,659 people lost their lives on roads in the Americas in 2023, while fatalities across OISEVI member countries increased by 7 per cent between 2019 and 2023. The figures show that, if the current trend continues, this decade could end with a higher road crash rate than at the start of the period, underscoring the urgent need for stronger action.
The Ibero-American Index on Safe Mobility (IIMS) is a new benchmarking tool inspired by the Human Development Index that will help countries measure progress, identify priority areas for improvement and encourage evidence-based investment in safer mobility.
The Index recognises the critical role of safe roads and includes a Safe Infrastructure Indicator derived from three sub-indicators:
- Existence of public policies for the design and maintenance of safe roads (e.g. legal requirements to carry out road safety audits or iRAP assessments on new and existing roads);
- Application of objective criteria to assess infrastructure risk: the percentage of kilometres of the country’s road network that have been assessed using the iRAP methodology, or, alternatively using another equivalent methodology (such as that required by European directives).
- Effective investment in safe roads: the percentage of kilometres of the country’s road network that has been assessed using the iRAP methodology (or equivalent) in recent years, and which is considered safe, having achieved a rating of 3 stars or more.
The report outlines practical, high-impact priorities including improving road safety data, strengthening enforcement, investing in safer infrastructure and public transport, protecting vulnerable road users, enhancing vehicle safety, supporting road crash victims and expanding the application of proven road safety tools.
Report co-author iRAP Safer Journeys Lead for the Americas Edgar Zamora said, “The launch of the Ibero-American Index on Safe Mobility is a significant step for the region, providing countries with a practical, evidence-based framework to measure progress and prioritise investments that will save lives. By incorporating objective infrastructure safety indicators based on the iRAP methodology, the Index recognises the vital role that safer roads play in a Safe System. Together with stronger data, safer vehicles, effective legislation and coordinated action, this new tool will help accelerate progress towards a future where no one is killed or seriously injured on Ibero-America’s roads.”
The publication was co-authored by experts from nearly 40 regional road safety agencies including the Ibero-American Alliance for Safe Mobility (REDUX), National Alliance for Road Safety (ANASEVI), Ibero-American Federation of Victims against Road Violence (FICVI), Aleatica and Aleatica Foundation for Road Safety, MAPFRE Foundation, RACE Foundation, Youth for Road Safety (YOURS), International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), Latin NCAP, Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Association for the Prevention of Road Accidents – P(A)T, Association for the Study of Spinal Cord Injury (AESLEME), Association of Road Safety Auditors (ASEVI), Road Safety Council of Costa Rica (COSEVI), European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), Spanish Road Association Foundation (AEC), European Motorists’ Club Foundation (CEA Foundation), National Confederation of Driving Schools of Spain Foundation (FCNAE), Ibero-American Association of Road Safety Education and Training Centres (AICEFOV), Alliance for Road Safety (ASV), Spanish Foundation for Road Safety (FESVIAL), RACE Foundation, International Motor Vehicle Inspection Committee (CITA), University Institute for Traffic and Road Safety Research (INTRAS), and National Laboratory of Materials and Structural Models, University of Costa Rica.
The Index was launched to delegates of the 22 member countries in the OISEVI General Assembly on 26 June in Madrid.