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SEMINAR INVITATION
 The South African National Roads Agency Limited, on behalf of PIARC Technical Committee’s C.1 Safer Road Infrastructure and C.2 Safer Road Operations, extends a sincere invitation to you to participate in an upcoming International Seminar, Promoting Road Safety for Vulnerable Road Users in the beautiful city of Cape Town at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 25 to 27 October 2009.
The Seminar will bring together the leaders and decision makers in the field of Road and Road Transport related needs of all PIARC member countries. The Seminar program features technical sessions as well as occasions to meet important practitioners in less formal settings. General presentation and case studies will highlight how the issues of Road Safety for Vulnerable Road Users are being addressed. Given the interesting subjects large opportunities for group discussion and feedback will be given.
We are confident that the Seminar will be an informative, stimulating and enjoyable occasion, and we hope that you will be able to join us in sharing experience, ideas and friendship in Cape Town in October 2009.
Warm regards
Nazir Alli
CEO South African National Roads Agency Limited
SEMINAR INFORMATION
This Seminar is part of the PIARC Programme of International Seminars. Please visit the PIARC website for more information on this international association. All information and details relating to how you can attend and participate in this very important International Seminar, are available on this website.
Objective of the Seminar
The type of traffic, the mix of different types of road users, and the type of crashes in developing and emerging countries differ significantly from those in more developed countries. The traffic patterns of developing and emerging countries have generally not been experienced by more developed countries in the past, and technologies and policies can therefore not be automatically transferred from more developed countries without appropriate adaptation, and due consideration for local conditions.
Primary objectives of this International Seminar therefore entail the following:• Identifying and understanding the issues of vulnerable road users in both developed and developing countries;
• Sharing best local, regional and international practices and/or experiences in successfully
combating vulnerable road user deaths and injuries; and
• Highlighting solutions to reduce the perpetuation of high vulnerable road user death and injury rates.
The Plight of Vulnerable Road Users
There is no doubt that road safety is one of the most important road related issues, particularly for developing and emerging nations. Although all types of road users are at risk of being injured or killed in a road traffic crash, there are notable differences in fatality rates between different road user groups. In particular, vulnerable road users such as non-motorized traffic and two-wheeler users are at greater risk than vehicle occupants, and usually bear the greatest burden of injury. This is especially true in developing and emerging countries, because of the greater variety and intensity of traffic mix and the lack of separation from other road users. Of particular concern is the mix between the slow-moving and vulnerable non-motorized road users, as well as motorcycles, and that of fast-moving, motorized vehicles.
As depicted in Figures 1 and 2 below, the majority of road deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, with the vast majority being Vulnerable Road Users.
Figure1. Road traffic injury mortality rates (per 100 000 population) in WHO regions, 2002
Figure 2. Split of road user take deaths per country
Seminar Methodology
The methodology for the International Seminar will comprise (i) plenary sessions with presentations by leading experts, (ii) theme-specific breakaway sessions/workshops lead by expert facilitators, (iii) a plenary expert panel discussion, and (iv) conclusions and a resolution. The plenary sessions will comprise presentations from experts of PIARC Technical Committee’s C1 Safer Road Infrastructure and C2 Safer Road Operations, as well as local, regional and international leading experts.
Language
The official language of the seminar will be English, with simultaneous translation into French.
Who should attend?
The seminar topic and solutions involves a wide variety of stakeholders and more than 300 delegates from the following sectors are expected to attend:
- Members of PIARC Technical Committee’s C.1 Safer Road Infrastructure, and C.2 Safer Road Operations
- Members of the Association of Southern African National Road Agencies (ASANRA)
- Public-sector decision makers
- Community Leaders
- Government Officials from Departments with vested interests in Road Safety, such as Transport, Roads, Public Works, Public / Community Safety and Education
- Road Safety Policy Makers
- Traffic and Safety Engineers and Planners
- Road Safety Managers
- Road Safety Auditors
- Road Safety and Accident Prevention Officers
- Traffic Law Enforcement Officials
- Police, Health Care and Emergency Service Providers
- Health Professionals
- Educational, Training and Research Institutes
- Academics and Students
- Educators
- Community Development Specialists
- Transport and Tourism Sector Representatives
- Automotive Companies & Representatives
- Driver and Rider Trainers / Instructors
- Special Interest Groups and Associations
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