The Institute for Road and Traffic Education (IRTE) and the Institute for Traffic Care (ITC) have together organized special two road safety expert-meetings. With the assistance of RoadSafe (UK) and VIA (the Netherlands), international road safety experts and support from the industry a first step has been set to focus on benchmarking road safety and traffic enforcement in particular. The outcome of the meetings will be used as input in the training programs of the Academy. Extensive information regarding the outcome of the meetings can be found at the WRSN website. ( www.wrsn.net   )

The Delhi Conference 31 October – 1 November 2003       

Road Traffic Accidents have become the single largest threat to our humanity. Approximately 85,000 people are killed in road accidents and 1.2 million meet with serious injuries every year in India alone, causing an annual social economic loss of Rs.55,000 crores.
Enforcement is the key element in road safety management. Non-definition of enforcement, poor expertise and skills of enforcers and a lack of modern support in terms of tools and systems of enforcement have led to a non- development of a safe road user culture in India. This has resulted in an attitude of callousness amongst road users. Aggressive driving, tailgating, dangerous driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, over-speeding are some of the very common violations which are on the increase.

The Conference

The two-day Conference was the first global initiative in benchmarking road-traffic enforcement through international sharing of good practices and successful implemented enforcement strategies. The Conference laid special emphasis:

• In re-defining the enforcement with current relevance;
• In suggesting the role and coordination of responsible agencies in enforcement;
• Definition and allocation of traffic related fines;
• Accident Investigation and Analysis as a core issue to understanding the complex issues relating to enforcement;
• Legislation for important enforcement issues like: dangerous driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, over-speeding, school transportation, parking, protection for two wheeler riders etc;
• Tools ands systems for effective enforcement;
• Infrastructure for Enforcement;
• Expertise and Skills for enforcers;
• Driver Training;
• Vehicle Certification and enforcement;
• Public dealing;
• Crisis Management and handling of collisions;
• Global coordination and dissemination of best practices.

Delegates

76 delegates who were experts from USA, Ethiopia, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, UK, Australia, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Spain, Costa Rica deliberated in the conference. The Indian delegates included heads of police, Transport and Municipal Departments associated with the enforcement. The Organizations which participated included World Bank, ADB, WHO, UN Habitat, Centre UK, Transport Research Laboratory United Kingdom, Institute for Traffic Care, The Netherlands, Institute of Road Traffic Education, Swedish National Police Academy, Amsterdam Police, Central Road Research Institute, CISF, SIAM, Road Safe, RoSPA, Intrafpol, etc.

Outcome

The Outcome document would become the first major step towards:

• Harmonization and standardization of issues mentioned earlier;
• An important guideline for enforcement of road traffic in developing countries.