International Webinar Highlights Advanced Topics in Road Safety
3 min readInternational Webinar Highlights Advanced Topics in Road Safety
Brasília, June 26, 2024 – The National Institute of Traffic and Safety Projects (INPROTRAN), in partnership with the Brazilian Association of State Highway Departments (ABDER), the International Automobile Federation (FIA) represented by the Automóvel Clube Brazilian (ACBr-FIA), which supports the actions of the International Road Assessment Program (iRAP), held the webinar “Advanced Topics in Road Safety” on June 25th and 26th.
The event, which was attended by engineers, lawyers and highway managers from all over Brazil, as well as road safety professionals and enthusiasts from several countries in FIA Region IV (Latin America), addressed crucial topics for the promotion of highways safer around the world
With the aim of implementing advanced methodologies for identifying and treating critical points on highways, the webinar followed the Vision Zero approach, created in Sweden and adopted worldwide, in a global effort to reduce traffic accident rates and save lives on the roads.
During the two-day event, several topics essential to road safety were discussed. These include the Safe Systems principles and approach, a holistic approach that ensures that all components of the road system contribute to safety. Methodologies for identifying and addressing hotspots were also discussed, using crash databases to identify and remediate high-risk areas, and the iRAP star rating, which offers tools and practices to assess and improve road safety.
Case studies were presented on the application of iRAP on Brazilian highways, including field research, coding, star rating, countermeasure proposals, investment plans and development of engineering projects. These presentations demonstrated the practical use of iRAP tools, highlighting the importance of a systematic and integrated approach to improving road safety. The National Plan for Reducing Traffic Deaths and Injuries (PNATRAS) was also highlighted, guiding INPROTRAN’s actions.
The webinar featured the participation of renowned experts, such as Julio Urzua, Director of Strategic Projects at iRAP in Brazil, who brought valuable insights into the application of the methodology; Shanna Lucchesi, iRAP Project Coordinator, who highlighted essential tools and classifications for road safety; Morgan Fletcher, iRAP Latin America Operations Team Leader, who discussed the practical implementation of the proposed countermeasures; Franco Azzato, Training and Accreditation Coordinator at iRAP, who focused on training professionals in the area; and Humberto Kennedy, Vice-President of the Automóvel Clube Brasileiro (ACBr-FIA), who highlighted the role of the ACBr in promoting road safety and the importance of collaboration between institutions to achieve common objectives.
Francisco Garonce, Vice-President of INPROTRAN, shared his vast experience in road safety, and Marcello da Costa, Technical Director of INPROTRAN, addressed the importance of advanced methodologies in road safety.
The INPROTRAN initiative, together with iRAP, ABDER and ACBr-FIA, represents a significant step in building a global network of professionals committed to the continuous improvement of our roads. This joint effort highlights the importance of a collaborative and integrated approach to addressing road safety challenges. INPROTRAN, with its dedication and commitment to the cause, has positioned itself as a leader in implementing innovative and effective strategies, inspired by the Vision Zero approach, which aims to completely eliminate deaths and serious injuries in traffic.
Collaboration with renowned international institutions such as iRAP, ACBr-FIA and ABDER reinforces the seriousness and scope of the proposed actions. This webinar was an example of the positive impact that these partnerships can generate, promoting the sharing of knowledge, techniques and best practices that can be applied globally to create safer roads for everyone.
