Road Safety Conference in Tanzania 2017

Fast Tracking Road Safety Initiatives in Africa: An Inescapable Necessity 13 – 14 March 2017, Dar es Salaam - Tanzania     The International Road Federation (IRF) Geneva, together with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Union (AU), and the Tanzanian Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication organised regional seminar called"Fast Tracking Road Safety Initiatives in Africa: An Inescapable Necessity. " The two-day Regional Road Safety Seminar was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on 13 – 14 March 2017. The seminar focused on ways to accelerate the implementation of actions to addressing the growing problem of road safety in Africa. . The Honourable Tanzanian Minister for Works, Transport and Communications, and Chairman of the IRF Africa Board, Prof.MakameMbarawa, inaugurated the event in Dar es Salaam and urged the participants to develop realistic and implementable strategies to combat the pandemic on African roads. During his keynote address, the Honourable Deputy Minister of Transport of Namibia, Mr. Sankwasa James Sankwasa, emphasised the urgency of acting to improve road safety in Africa.   The key conclusions of the seminar were:  Political commitment is needed for improving road safety. Each country should prepare a national road map. Dedicated Road Safety Boards addressing ALL aspects of road safety should be established. The Road Safety Board should report directly to the Head of State. Countries should implement road safety standards for vehicles and infrastructure. Regular road safety audits and inspections should be made routine. A "Black-spot" remediation program should be implemented. Reliable data collection and management systems must underpin road safety policy. Road safety education should become an integral part of school curriculums.   For further information please contact Ms Méline Huynh, by e-mail: info@irfnet.ch or by phone: +41 22 306 02 60 About IRF Established in 1948, IRF is a membership-based organisation, representing leading corporate and institutional players drawn from the road and mobility sectors worldwide. Its mission is to promote the development of roads and road networks that enable access and sustainable mobility for all. Its approach is centred on key strategic components of knowledge transfer & information sharing, connecting people, businesses and organisations and policy & advocacy. Through its Expert Groups and Committees that address key economic, environmental and social issues, IRF is qualified and able to make a decisive global contribution to the transport sector. As a not-for-profit organisation, based in Switzerland, IRF provides a neutral and global platform for the road and mobility sectors.www.irfnet.ch     International Road Federation IRF, 2 chemin de Blandonnet, 1214 Vernier / Geneva, Switzerland Tel: +41 22 306 02 60 | Fax: +41 22 306 02 70 | info@irfnet.ch | www.irfnet.ch © Copyright International Road Federation 2017. All rights reserved.