John Dawson, iRAP Chairman, explains how safe road design and engineering can have an enormous impact on road safety
Scholars experienced at first hand the work of TRL – the Transport Research Laboratory
Scholars visited the London Road Safety Unit of Transport for London and learned of their Road Safety Plan for London
Scholars meet Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen speaking at the dinner
Prince Michael of Kent speaking at the dinner
The FIA Foundation Road Safety Scholarship Programme is a ground-breaking initiative by the Foundation, bringing together talented young professionals from around the globe for a two-week intensive course on road safety policy and promotion. The 2009 Programme took place in the UK from the 8th-19th June with participants from countries of the former Soviet Union and Africa – all outstanding individuals currently working to make roads safe in their countries.
The core of the programme was an introduction to the ‘Systems Approach’ to Road Safety Management – underlining the importance of safe road and vehicle design, effective enforcement and road safety awareness among road users. All these elements have a crucial role to play in reducing deaths and injuries on the road. Public and political support for road safety is also vital. A key programme theme was ‘partnership working;’ how central and local government, the police, schools and citizens can work together to create a culture of road safety and save lives.
During the course of the programme Scholars spent a day visiting iRAP – the International Road Assessment Programme. iRAP’s work in countries such as Serbia and Malaysia illustrates how safe road design and engineering can have an enormous impact. Working with governments and local agencies, iRAP target high-risk roads and propose affordable changes, delivering significant reductions in deaths and serious injuries. Scholars learned to operate iRAP’s new Road Safety Toolkit – a world-wide resource which is web-based and free to use.
Scholars experienced at first hand the work of TRL – the Transport Research Laboratory – whose work has been at the leading edge of safety innovations in vehicle design, road design and vehicle testing. They tried out TRL’s state-of-the-art driving simulator, viewed an impact test on a child car restraint, and saw a current example of the way in which research feeds into evidence-based public policy: they were shown dramatic impact test results on wheelchair restraints used inside buses and taxis - tests which are now informing a re-examination of standards for public vehicles by the Department of Transport.
The Scholarship included two days at Bramshill Police Training College discussing the importance of effective enforcement and considering the role played by police in education, data collection and public information. The short course was designed by Alan Jones, Chairman of the Professional Development Sub-Committee and John Giblin, Chairman of the Sergeants’ Central Committee of the Police Federation of England and Wales. Scholars were fortunate in being able to view two Hampshire Road Traffic Police vehicles and see up close the technology now in use to aid traffic law enforcement.
Illustrating what local government can do to raise road safety awareness and save lives, Scholars visited the London Road Safety Unit of Transport for London and learned the details of their Road Safety Plan for London. TFL’s extensive monitoring and effective target-setting, their emphasis on safe road design and their award-winning educational programmes have delivered real progress in road safety for Londoners. They are committed to improving on this – with new ambitious targets to reduce deaths and injuries, particularly among vulnerable groups such as young people. Scholars visited the London Traffic Control Centre – described at the world’s largest dynamic network management system. They came away impressed with how much can be achieved even in busy inner-urban areas.
In every country, ensuring road safety is on the political agenda is an urgent priority. Scholars participated in a parliamentary event designed to do just that in the UK: the launch of the new Make Road Safe Report calling for a Decade of Action on Road Safety. Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton joined the Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis, and the British comedian Rory Bremner in appealing for a global commitment to cut road deaths by half over the next ten years. Lord Adonis pledged the UK government’s support for this campaign, and promised this would be reflected in their actions at the Ministerial Conference hosted by the Russian Federation in November 2009.
The Scholars met with leading road safety campaigners and professionals throughout their programme. They heard more about campaigning in parliament from Rob Gifford, the Director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, and discussed the work of the Transport Select Committee with Committee Clerk Annette Toft and Committee Specialist David Davies. They heard about engaging the business community and fleet managers in road safety promotion from Adrian Walsh, Director of RoadSafe. They learned from Edmund King, President of the AA, how the AA targets road safety messages at young people – particularly teenage drivers who are among the highest casualties. They also heard of the Department for Transport’s work coordinating road safety policy and raising public awareness through their ‘THINK’ campaign and intelligent advertising.
In a dinner hosted by Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, Chairman of the Commission on Global Road Safety, Guest of Honour HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO presented the Scholars with certificates on completing the course. The event was an opportunity to thank many of those who gave their time to the Road Safety Scholars and helped to ensure the success of this first programme.
The course was guided by Kate McMahon, former Head of Road Safety Research in the UK Department for Transport, and Emma MacLennan, former Director of the John Smith Fellowship Programme on good governance. After participating in the programme, FIA Foundation Scholars will become part of an active international network of road safety alumni, and their progress will be monitored and encouraged.
The 2009 FIA Foundation Road Safety Scholars:
Ashot Davidyants, M.D.
Head, Department of Monitoring Systems, National Institute of Health, Republic of Armenia
Executive Director, Armenian Public Health Association
Serghei Diaconu
President, Automobile Club of Moldova
Gela Kvashilava
Founder/Director, Foundation “Partnership for Road Safety,” Republic of Georgia
Deputy Director, Department of Information and Analysis, Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs
Paul Kwamusi
FIA Foundation Regional Road Safety Coordinator for Africa
Marcelina Moraru
Legal Advisor, Transport Agency, Republic of Moldova
Ion Panfil
Third Secretary, Department for European Integration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Moldova
Responsible for monitoring implementation of European standards in the field of transportation
Vusal Rajabli
Founder and President, HAYAT - Azerbaijan’s largest national non-governmental organisation
Dmitry Sambuk
FIA Foundation International Co-ordinator for the Make Roads Safe Campaign
Poghos Shahinyan
Founder/Executive Director, National Road Safety Council, Republic of Armenia