{"id":5786,"date":"2025-08-15T03:13:34","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T17:13:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.temp.irap-dev.org\/safer-roads-and-school-journeys-in-guatemala\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T15:04:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T05:04:40","slug":"safer-roads-and-school-journeys-in-guatemala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irap.org\/nl\/safer-roads-and-school-journeys-in-guatemala\/","title":{"rendered":"Veiligere Wegen en Schoolreizen Gesteund in Guatemala"},"content":{"rendered":"

Edgar Zamora, iRAP Safer Journeys Lead for Latin America and the Caribbean, participated in a high-level road safety event in Guatemala this week, delivering key presentations that highlighted the critical role of data-driven infrastructure management in saving lives and preventing serious injuries due to road crashes.<\/p>\n

The Road Safety Forum, attended by leaders of highway concessions, road authorities and industry, was co-organised by the Automobile Club of Guatemala<\/a>, the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing, 3M<\/a>, en de Foundation for the Development of Guatemala (FUNDESA)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With funding from the FIA Stichting<\/a>, a demonstration project will soon assess 200 km of the CA2 Occidente Highway, a critical economic corridor linking Guatemala with Mexico. The project aims to identify high-risk road sections and guide strategic investment to maximise safety for all road users.<\/p>\n

Mr Zamora presented the value of iRAP\u2019s globally recognised methodologies and tools in supporting Guatemala\u2019s priority infrastructure development programme, now gaining momentum following the approval of a new national road safety law.\u00a0His presentations underscored how evidence-based iRAP road safety assessments can inform strategic infrastructure investment to reduce road trauma and support implementation of the Mondiaal Plan voor Decennium van Actie voor Verkeersveiligheid 2021-2030<\/a> and achievement of UN Targets 3 and 4<\/a> for safer road infrastructure.<\/p>\n

From safe motorcyclist riding to strengthening road safety alliances, the Forum addressed key topics such as inter-institutional coordination in concessions, connection between infrastructure and regional development, road safety and technology investment funds, and human behaviour factors.<\/p>\n

The event also celebrated the impressive progress of local engineers trained in iRAP\u2019s Sterrenwaardering voor scholen (SR4S)<\/a> Programme. Some 40 engineers have assessed nearly 90\u00a0schools, resulting in the allocation of budget to improve safety at 35 schools by 2025.<\/p>\n

Guatemala\u2019s road safety journey has deep roots, building on the findings of 1,022km of iRAP road safety assessments in the country. Guatemala was part of a large Pacific Corridor road safety assessment across seven countries performed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in 2011. Based on the results and Safer Roads Investment Plan, IDB invested around US$1.76 billion to 2020 to eliminate high-risk road sections and save lives along the corridor. A repeat assessment conducted in 2020, from Guatemala to Panama, has obtained new Star Ratings to inform continued investment with the potential to save 65,000 lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith strong political commitment, technical training, and data-led planning, Guatemala is well on its way to making safer journeys a reality,\u201d said Edgar Zamora. \u201cWe are proud to support the country\u2019s ambition to make every road journey safer for all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Volgens\u00a0iRAP\u2019s Safety Insights Explorer<\/a>, achieving UN Target 4 for greater than 75% of travel on 3-star or better roads for all road users in Guatemala by 2030 stands to save in excess of an estimated 700,000 lives and serious injuries over the 20-year life of road treatments with an economic benefit of US$1 billion \u2013 $23 for every $1 spent.<\/p>\n

\"Guatemala<\/p>\n

Voor meer informatie:<\/p>\n