Promoting the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety

As part of its strong commitment to promoting the objectives of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020), IRF will be convening a major international symposium in Bucharest, Romania from 10-11 May, 2011

The symposium, based around the theme Providing Infrastructure that improves Road Safety, will take the form of a high-level, two-day interactive gathering, built around six sessions addressing key themes.

These are:

• Forgiving Roads

• Good Practice in Data Systems

• High-quality Safety Products

• Managing Road Infrastructure

• Performance

• Sharing Regional Experience

Meeting Road Safety Targets Chairman of the Symposium, Michael Stanciu, said: "The event will be organised in a singular, dynamic way, introducing an informal set-up that will enable delegates from the audience to ask the speakers questions and actively engage in discussions.

"Examples of breakthrough infrastructure measures to improve road safety will be provided by experts from around the world".

Some sessions will comprise introductory presentations by renowned practitioners, researchers and/or policymakers. Others will take the form of open exchanges of views between industry experts, moderated by media professionals.

In keeping with the express call on the part of the UN General Assembly for road safety stakeholders to set out their lead strategies for the decade, the Symposium, which has been scheduled to coincide with the 2462 IRF General Assembly on 9 May, will close with the formal signature of an Action Plan encapsulating the recommendations of the assembled industry and road sector representatives.

In addition, the awards ceremony for the new Innovation Award for Road Transport in Developing Countries (InARoaD) will take place during a Gala Dinner on 10 May.

This will be followed on 11 May by the official ceremony for the IRF launch of the UN Decade of Action, which will take place in a spectacular public setting in central Bucharest in the presence of Romanian dignitaries.

The invaluable co-organisational support of the 1207 SEARCH Corporation will ensure prominent media coverage for the Symposium as well as a series of keynote events in Romania to mark the launch.

IRF looks forward to welcoming delegates from across the world to this unique occasion hosted in the beautiful city of Bucharest, once known as Little Paris by virtue of its splendid tree-lined boulevards and rich cultural heritage.