IRF Supports European Dialogue on Connected and Automated Mobility at EUCAD Symposium 2026
The International Road Federation (IRF) supported the advancement of connected and automated mobility (CCAM) by organising the fourth Interactive Symposium on Research & Innovation for Connected and Automated Driving in Europe (EUCAD Symposium 2026), held on 8–9 October 2026 at the Geneva Marriott Hotel in Switzerland.
Organised as part of IRF’s work with CCAMbassador, a Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action, the symposium brought together stakeholders from across the European and international mobility ecosystem to examine the challenges and opportunities involved in moving connected and automated driving from research and pilot projects towards real-world deployment.
Held in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Working Party 1 Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety, the event strengthened the connection between European research and innovation activities and international discussions on road traffic safety and regulatory frameworks.
Addressing the Challenges of Deployment
As connected, cooperative and automated mobility technologies continue to advance, their successful deployment depends on more than technological innovation. Effective regulation, appropriate digital infrastructure, responsible artificial intelligence and integration into urban transport systems are essential to ensuring that these solutions can operate safely and reliably at scale.
EUCAD Symposium 2026 focused on these challenges, providing a platform for public authorities, regulators, researchers, industry representatives, transport operators and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge and identify priorities for future research, policy and implementation.
The programme featured contributions from UNECE representatives, alongside experts from the European, international and Swiss CCAM communities. Discussions examined the conditions required to translate research outcomes into practical mobility solutions and strengthen cooperation among the organisations responsible for developing, regulating and deploying these technologies.
Participants also had opportunities to experience connected and automated vehicle demonstrations, linking discussions on research and policy with emerging applications of CCAM technologies.
Strengthening Collaboration Across the CCAM Ecosystem
The symposium formed part of the broader work of CCAMbassador, a project running from June 2025 to May 2028 and coordinated by ERTICO – ITS Europe. The initiative aims to accelerate the transition of connected, cooperative and automated mobility from research and pilot activities towards deployment by strengthening cooperation among public authorities, transport operators, industry, researchers and citizens.
Supported by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTI) and the CCAM Partnership, EUCAD Symposium 2026 continued a series of European events dedicated to advancing research, innovation and implementation in connected and automated driving.
For IRF, engagement in this initiative reflects the importance of connecting technological progress with the wider requirements of road and transport infrastructure. The deployment of automated mobility depends on coordinated action across infrastructure planning, road safety, regulation and digital systems, alongside collaboration between public and private stakeholders.
By contributing to this dialogue in Geneva, IRF supported efforts to identify the practical steps needed to bring connected and automated mobility closer to implementation and ensure that emerging technologies can contribute to safer, more efficient and better-integrated transport systems.
FIDIC and IRF formalise their collaboration at LAC Transport Forum in Miami
FIDIC and IRF formalise their collaboration at LAC Transport Forum in Miami
The International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) and the International Road Federation (IRF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on research, capacity building and knowledge sharing in the road transport and infrastructure sector, with a shared ambition to support stronger infrastructure delivery around the world.
Both organisations share a deep interest in Latin America. FIDIC President Alfredo Ingletti and Chief Executive Officer Susanna Zammataro signed the MoU with IRF Director General Gonzalo Alcaraz at the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Transport Forum 2026. FIDIC is co-organising the Forum in Miami with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
As countries across Latin America step up investment in their road and transport networks, the ability to prepare, procure and manage projects well is becoming as important as the financing itself. The partnership will focus on building that capability, among other areas, with particular attention to project preparation, asset management, and the role of public procurement in driving innovation and quality.
FIDIC President Alfredo Ingletti said: “The infrastructure Latin America builds over the next decade will shape its growth, safety and connectivity for generations. Investment alone will not deliver it; it takes the skills and expertise to plan, procure and manage infrastructure well. That is what this partnership with IRF is about and why capacity building is an important first step in that direction.”
Susanna Zammataro, FIDIC Chief Executive Officer, said: “There is an important pipeline of infrastructure projects in Latin America right now. No single organisation can meet a challenge of that scale alone, which is why partnerships like this one matter. By combining our expertise and our networks, our organisations are in a stronger position to support Latin America and other regions of the world in delivering infrastructure that is sustainable, resilient and built to last.”
Gonzalo Alcaraz, IRF Director General, said: “Every road built in Latin America over the next decade will need to be maintained, made safe and managed long after it opens. That is where much of the value of an investment is won or lost. IRF has spent more than 75 years helping governments and industry get this right. Together with FIDIC, we want to help road agencies and their partners prepare better projects, take care of the assets they already have, and use procurement to reward quality and innovation, not just lowest cost.”
The signing at the Regional Policy Dialogue underlines the shared commitment of both organisations to supporting quality infrastructure delivery across Latin America.
Image attached shows representatives of FIDIC and IRF following the signing of the MoU at the Regional Policy Dialogue in Miami on 30 September 2026.
ENDS
About IRF
Active since 1948, the International Road Federation (IRF) is an international, membership-based organisation that shapes the future of road and transport infrastructure systems for people and the planet. Mobilising the world’s road transport ecosystem through a trusted platform for collaboration, IRF provides practical knowledge, policy engagement and capacity building to support countries and industry leaders deliver road systems that are inclusive, safe, green and efficient.
About FIDIC
FIDIC, the International Federation of Consulting Engineers, is the global representative body for national associations of consulting engineers and represents over one million engineering professionals and 40,000 firms in about 100 countries worldwide.
Keep Europe moving: invest in the roads we already have
Road authorities, the construction industry and millions of road users call for Europe’s roads to be treated as strategic assets—maintained, modernised and prepared for climate change and digital mobility.
Issued jointly by EAPA, ERF, FIA Region I and IRF
Brussels, 25 September 2026 — Issued to coincide with Connecting Europe Days in Brussels, this joint statement calls on decision-makers to treat Europe's existing road network as a strategic asset that is maintained, modernised and funded for the long term. Europe’s ambitions for safer, greener and increasingly digital mobility depend on the quality of the physical road network supporting them. Representatives of national road administrations, the construction industry and millions of road users have identified maintenance, resilience, predictable investment and cooperation as shared priorities for Europe’s roads.
Key messages
- Europe’s existing road network is a strategic and essential asset supporting everyday mobility, economic competitiveness, territorial cohesion, supply chains and resilience.
- Maintenance is an investment, not simply a cost: timely intervention preserves value, extends infrastructure life and avoids greater costs and disruption later.
- Future mobility is both physical and digital: electrification, connected vehicles and smarter systems still depend on safe, resilient and well-maintained roads.
- Long-term financial certainty is essential: road authorities and industry need predictable investment to plan, retain skills, modernise and introduce lower-emission technologies.
Protecting and modernising the network Europe already has
Europe already has an extensive road network, spanning approximately 6.5 million kilometres [1], supporting everyday journeys, public transport, emergency services and freight, while providing the first and last mile of almost every multimodal journey. The immediate challenge is to protect its value, modernise it and keep it performing for longer.
Across Europe, road construction and maintenance expenditure account for around 1% of GDP on average, underscoring the sector's economic significance.[2] Timely maintenance can extend infrastructure life, reduce disruption and avoid more costly reconstruction. It can also improve traffic flow and reduce the fuel or energy consumed by vehicles. Delivering these benefits requires decisions based on long-term network performance rather than short-term budget cycles.
The construction industry needs a credible long-term project pipeline to retain skilled workers, renew equipment and invest in lower-emission materials, technologies and construction methods. Stop-start investment can reduce capacity, delay modernisation and make it harder to prepare infrastructure for future demands.
Jean-Pierre Paseri, Vice President of EAPA and President of FIEC, speaking on behalf of road construction actors, including also ERF, and IRF, linked the future of the network to political commitment and industry’s ability to invest: “Europe has already built one of its most important infrastructure assets. The challenge now is to protect its value, modernise it and prepare it for future demands. Industry needs long-term political commitment and predictable investment to deliver the necessary skills, capacity and solutions.”
Connected vehicles, automation and smarter systems will play an increasingly important role in European transport mobility. However, digital innovation cannot compensate for deteriorating physical infrastructure. Roads must also withstand more extreme weather while continuing to serve passengers, freight, public transport and emergency services.
Carsten Karcher, Secretary General of EAPA, who hosted the discussion for a special episode of EAPA’s video podcast The RoadCast, connected these pressures with the need to rethink how Europe prepares its roads: “Europe’s roads are under growing pressure from extreme weather, ageing infrastructure and changing transport systems. We need to move beyond just repairing yesterday’s roads and start preparing the resilient, physical and digital network that tomorrow’s mobility will require.”
Gonzalo Alcaraz, Director General of the International Road Federation (IRF), pointed to the role roads play when it matters most: “It is often in moments of crisis that we are reminded just how essential our road network is. This summer's wildfires across Europe showed it again: roads became evacuation routes, they allowed emergency services to reach affected communities and they kept essential goods and services moving. We cannot take the resilience of that infrastructure for granted..”
Although the participants represent different parts of the road and mobility community, their perspectives converge on the need for stable, transparent and long-term investment. Without this certainty, authorities risk postponing necessary interventions while industry faces difficulty investing in skills, capacity and innovation.
EAPA President Slovenko Henigman underlined the mismatch between long-term infrastructure needs and short-term budget decisions: “Industry cannot plan for the next decade if infrastructure funding is decided one year at a time. Europe needs predictable, long-term investment that places maintenance, modernisation and life-cycle performance at the heart of road policy.”
For road users, infrastructure quality is experienced through safer journeys, reliable access to work and essential services, stronger connections between communities and affordable mobility. The discussion also addressed how Europe should fund its network as mobility patterns change and revenues from traditional fuel taxation decline. Any future approach will need to balance stable investment with fairness, transparency, and tangible benefits for users.
Diogo Pinto, Director General of FIA Region I, stressed that road users should remain at the centre of the debate about the future of Europe’s road network: “Roads are not simply infrastructure — they are a service that millions of people rely on every day to reach work, education, healthcare, family, and essential services. Their quality directly affects safety, reliability, accessibility, and the cost of mobility. As traditional fuel-tax revenues decline, Europe needs an open and informed discussion about how we fund this essential asset, with any future system being fair, transparent, and clearly connected to the quality of service that road users receive.”
Ahead of Connecting Europe Days, the signatories call on EU and national decision-makers to: recognise the existing road network as a strategic asset; treat maintenance as an investment rather than a cost; provide long-term, predictable funding for maintenance, modernisation and resilience; and ensure that any future funding model is fair and transparent for users. Keeping Europe moving starts with the roads we already have.
These conclusions emerged from Keep Europe Moving, a special episode of EAPA’s The RoadCast bringing together Steve Phillips of CEDR; Jean-Pierre Paseri of FIEC, speaking on behalf of road construction actors, including ERF, EAPA and IRF; and Diogo Pinto of FIA Region I. Hosted by EAPA Secretary General Carsten Karcher, the discussion explores maintenance, funding, resilience, digitalisation and what Europe’s road network needs for the future.
Notes to editors
About Keep Europe Moving
Keep Europe Moving is the final episode of Season 2 of EAPA’s ‘The RoadCast’ , a video podcast. It brings together voices representing Europe’s national road administrations, the broader road construction sector and road users for a conversation to explore the shared priorities shaping the future of Europe’s roads ahead of the Connecting Europe Days in Brussels.
About the issuing organisations
EAPA — The European Asphalt Pavement Association is the voice of the asphalt paving industry in Europe. It represents the sector at European level, develops and shares technical knowledge, and contributes industry expertise on road construction and maintenance, sustainability, safety, innovation and digitalisation.
ERF — The European Union Road Federation is a non-profit association that coordinates the views of Europe’s road infrastructure sector and provides a platform for research and dialogue on mobility issues between stakeholders and institutional actors.
FIA Region I — FIA Region I represents mobility clubs and millions of road users across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, advocating for safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable mobility.
IRF — The International Road Federation (IRF) is an international organisation headquartered in Geneva that mobilises the world's road transport ecosystem through a trusted platform for collaboration. It provides practical knowledge, policy engagement and capacity building to support countries and industry leaders deliver road systems that are inclusive, safe, green and efficient.
Coordinating Media contact
Meghaa Vandana
Marketing & Communications Manager
European Asphalt Pavement Association (EAPA)
Email: communications@eapa.org ; meghaa@hummingclouds.com
Phone: +32465609401
[1] [1] Data based on ©IRF World Road Statistics – 63rd Edition. Available at worldroadstatistics.org.
[2] Data based on ©IRF World Road Statistics – 63rd Edition. Available at worldroadstatistics.org.
Building the Path to Scale for BIO-INTEL-MOB Solutions: IRF Drives Action for Mobility Innovation
17 - 18 September 2026 | Thessaloniki, Greece - International Road Federation (IRF) Project Manager Iona Kirkpatrick represented IRF at the BIO-INTEL-MOB General Assembly, outlining how the project will move from developing innovative mobility solutions to creating the conditions for their wider adoption.
The General Assembly brought together partners working to advance climate-neutral, data-driven and citizen-centric mobility and logistics across urban and peri-urban areas. BIO-INTEL-MOB combines mobility data spaces, artificial intelligence, digital twins, mobility hubs, green-safe routing and circular logistics approaches to develop solutions that can respond to different territorial needs.
IRF leads project responsibility for maturity, scalability and transferability. During the General Assembly, Kirkpatrick presented the work planned, including the development of standardisation manuals, roadmaps and guidelines to support the design, implementation and scaling of BIO-INTEL-MOB solutions.
Building the evidence for replication
Kirkpatrick highlighted that successful pilots are only one part of the pathway to long-term impact. To determine whether solutions can be replicated elsewhere, the work package will need evidence from the project's research, digital development, pilot implementation and impact assessment activities.
This includes documenting the technical architecture, technologies used, current maturity or Technology Readiness Level (TRL), development status and available evidence for each relevant solution or Key Exploitable Result.
The approach will also draw on pilot results and lessons learned. IRF will use the findings from the project's pilot activities to assess why particular solutions work, under which conditions they can be transferred and what adaptations may be required in other locations.
This evidence-based approach is central to BIO-INTEL-MOB's wider objective of developing solutions that can extend beyond individual pilot sites. The project currently combines mega pilots, satellite pilots and scalability sites across different European contexts.
Linking innovation with standards and policy
Another focus of Kirkpatrick's intervention was the role of standards and regulatory requirements in preparing innovations for wider uptake.
IRF will research relevant EU, ISO, CEN and ETSI standards, existing standardisation activities, regulatory requirements and potential gaps. This work will contribute to standardisation roadmaps and policy recommendations that can help connect BIO-INTEL-MOB solutions with the wider regulatory and technical environment.
The work will cover areas including physical infrastructure and data interoperability frameworks, creating a link between the project's pilot solutions and the standards that may influence their future deployment.
She also emphasised the need for partners to begin collecting the information required for these future deliverables now, rather than waiting until the formal delivery stages. A solution and knowledge matrix will track each relevant solution or Key Exploitable Result, its responsible partner, pilot site, technology or approach, maturity level and available evidence.
From project results to lasting mobility solutions
The intervention positioned IRF's contribution around a central question for research and innovation projects: how can successful project results become solutions that other cities and regions can realistically adopt?
Through its work package, IRF will help establish the evidence, standards, policy guidance and roadmaps needed to answer that question. The work will connect the experience generated across BIO-INTEL-MOB's pilots with the requirements for replication and transferability, supporting the project's longer-term objective of enabling adoption beyond the original demonstration environments.
As BIO-INTEL-MOB progresses, IRF will continue working with consortium partners to monitor developments across the project's work packages, identify relevant standards and regulatory frameworks, and prepare the foundations for the project's maturity, scalability and transferability assessments.
IRF Lead Trainer Miguel-Angel Serrano Santos joins SoRSA Scottish Conference 2026
17 September 2026 | Scotland, United Kingdom - Newly appointed Chair of the Society of Road Safety Auditors (SoRSA) and International Road Federation (IRF) Lead Trainer Eur Ing Miguel-Angel Serrano Santos is in Scotland for the SoRSA Scottish Conference 2026, bringing his expertise in road safety auditing and Safe System implementation to the annual gathering of road safety professionals.
Held at the Traffic Scotland National Control Centre, the conference focused on the key principles and practical application of the Safe System approach to road safety. The programme brought together professionals from across the road safety sector through expert presentations, interactive discussions and live demonstrations.
Miguel’s participation builds on his work with IRF to strengthen professional capacity in road safety auditing. As an IRF Lead Trainer, he delivers training that equips road safety professionals with the knowledge and practical skills needed to assess road infrastructure systematically and identify opportunities to address risk.
Building professional capacity for safer roads
IRF’s road safety work extends beyond promoting Safe System principles. Through its professional training programmes and auditor development initiatives, IRF supports practitioners who are responsible for applying these principles in the planning, design, construction and operation of road infrastructure.
Miguel has played a key role in this work, including leading IRF road safety auditor training programmes. These programmes help professionals develop the technical competencies required to undertake road safety audits at different stages of a road project, from feasibility and design through construction, pre-opening and existing-road assessments.
IRF’s Road Safety Auditors Registry, launched in 2024 with support from the TotalEnergies Foundation, is part of this wider effort to strengthen the professional community. The registry provides a platform for qualified road safety professionals and supports greater visibility of expertise in road safety auditing.
Connecting Safe System principles with practice
The Safe System approach recognises that road users can make mistakes and that the transport system should be designed and managed so that those mistakes do not result in death or serious injury.
For road safety auditors, this means examining infrastructure through a broader lens: how road design, speed, vehicles, road-user behaviour and post-crash response interact to influence risk.
The SoRSA Scottish Conference provided an opportunity to examine these principles from multiple professional perspectives, with speakers including representatives from Transport Scotland, RoSPA, IAM RoadSmart, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Northumbria Police, alongside Miguel as Incoming SoRSA Chair.
IRF calls for next phase of Safe System implementation at Bulgarian road safety conference
17 September 2026 | Plovdiv, Bulgaria — The International Road Federation (IRF) has called for a stronger focus on the practical implementation of Safe System principles at Bulgaria’s 12th Annual Conference on Safe Road Infrastructure.
Organised by the Bulgarian Branch Association Road Safety (BBARS), the two-day conference in Plovdiv brought together road authorities, researchers, engineers, road safety specialists and industry representatives around the common challenge of delivering safer road infrastructure. The programme combined institutional perspectives with technical discussions on vehicle restraint systems, traffic organisation, infrastructure maintenance and the wider social and economic consequences of road crashes.
IRF participated in the event at an important moment for both the Bulgarian and European road communities. The conference also provided an opportunity to mark a new chapter in IRF’s engagement in Europe following the unification of the European Road Federation (ERF) and IRF, bringing longstanding ERF relationships in Bulgaria into a broader international network of road authorities, technical experts and industry.
Addressing the conference, IRF Senior Advisor Brendan Halleman argued that the road sector is increasingly moving beyond the question of what the Safe System requires towards the more difficult challenge of how to implement it consistently, at scale and throughout the lifetime of the road. Bulgaria, he noted, already has Safe System principles embedded in its national road safety framework, including the objective of more forgiving infrastructure. The practical challenge is therefore to translate those objectives into everyday decisions on road function, speed, roadside design, vehicle restraint systems, signs and markings, vulnerable road users, maintenance and renewal.
“Safe System performance is not something that we purchase once, on the day the road opens. It has to be preserved.”
The presentation used roadside safety systems to illustrate this wider implementation challenge. Europe has developed a sophisticated performance-based framework around EN 1317, providing a common technical language for vehicle restraint systems. At the same time, technical standards must continue to evolve in response to new knowledge, changing vehicle characteristics, electrification, simulation methods and growing attention to lifecycle performance and maintainability. IRF is actively contributing to that European discussion.
Yet certification alone does not guarantee performance in service. Correct system selection, installation quality, compatible transitions, repairs following impact and the condition of the asset over time all influence the safety ultimately delivered on the road. IRF therefore highlighted the growing importance of inventories, condition assessment, intervention thresholds and risk-based maintenance prioritisation as part of a broader whole-life approach to safety infrastructure.
This discussion is particularly timely as the European Commission prepares new guidance under the Road Infrastructure Safety Management framework covering forgiving roadsides, self-explaining and self-enforcing roads, and infrastructure quality for vulnerable road users.
IRF underlined the strategic significance of this work. European transport policy has long pursued ambitious connectivity and mobility objectives through the TEN-T network and EU infrastructure investment, while simultaneously committing to Vision Zero and Safe System principles. The new guidance provides an opportunity to connect those objectives much more directly in the planning, design, assessment and operation of road infrastructure.
Rather than replacing national standards, the emerging framework is intended to provide a practitioner-oriented European reference alongside them. It is expected to address issues ranging from human factors, road categorisation and speed environment to clear zones, roadside hazard treatment, vehicle restraint systems, signs and markings and infrastructure for vulnerable road users. It will also be relevant to existing networks through road safety audits, inspections, retrofitting, prioritisation of interventions, maintenance and continuous improvement.
“Ultimately, Safe System is a capability: the ability to make thousands of good infrastructure decisions, consistently, over the lifetime of a network. Standards, guidance and technology are all part of that - but the decisive element is people and institutions having the capacity to put those pieces together”, Brendan Halleman concluded.
Building More Connected and Resilient Cities: IRF at CIVITAS Forum 2026
5–17 September 2026 | Thessaloniki, Greece - International Road Federation (IRF) Project Manager Iona Kirkpatrick attended the CIVITAS Forum 2026, bringing IRF’s work on sustainable, inclusive and innovative mobility to discussions with cities, policymakers, researchers and mobility practitioners from across Europe and beyond.
The CIVITAS Forum is the flagship event of the CIVITAS Initiative. Since 2003, the Forum has provided a platform for cities and mobility stakeholders to exchange knowledge, showcase innovative solutions and develop partnerships around the future of urban mobility.
This year’s theme, “Roots & Routes: Moving Forward to Competitive, Connected and Resilient Urban Mobility!”, explores how cities can build on their existing urban foundations while adopting new approaches to address changing mobility needs.
Connecting CIVITAS discussions with IRF projects
During the Forum, Iona took part in CIVITAS side meetings and thematic corners focused on public transport and new mobility services. These provide opportunities to share experience from projects across the IRF portfolio and connect ongoing project work with wider European discussions on urban mobility.
Among the projects highlighted were MOBILITIES FOR EU, FEDORA, and Roads4All – Horizon Europe, each contributing to different aspects of the transition towards more sustainable and user-centred mobility systems.
The engagement also creates opportunities to connect with partners and stakeholders involved in other CIVITAS projects, including metaCCAZE and UPPER, strengthening links between projects working on complementary challenges in urban transport.
From projects to practical change
For IRF, participation in the CIVITAS Forum provides a space to bring road infrastructure and mobility perspectives into broader conversations about how cities are changing.
As public transport, shared mobility, active travel, digital technologies and emerging mobility services become increasingly interconnected, road infrastructure remains an important part of how these systems function together. Exchange between cities, researchers, industry and international organisations can help translate project experience into approaches that are practical, scalable and responsive to local contexts.
Making Sustainable Transport Work: IRF Shares Practical Tools for the Road Sector During UN Decade Webinar
16 September 2026 | Online - IRF Head of Advocacy and Outreach Alice Yiu participated as a speaker in the launch of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport Webinar Series, highlighting practical tools, programmes and initiatives that can help advance safer, more inclusive and sustainable road systems.
The six-part webinar series explores the implementation of the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035) and the actions policymakers and practitioners can take to advance sustainable transport. The opening webinar focused on Focus Area 1: Ensure Access to Sustainable Transport for All, bringing together perspectives from international organisations, development institutions, governments and civil society.
During the session, Alice highlighted the IRF Roadmaps for Change series, a voluntary commitment to support the UN Decade and accelerate the transformation towards inclusive, safe, green and efficient road systems for all.
The Roadmaps for Change provide a framework for translating the objectives of sustainable transport into action across the road sector. Covering inclusive, safe, green, efficient and smart roads, the series brings together practical approaches, knowledge and tools to support stakeholders in addressing the different dimensions of sustainable road infrastructure.
Alice also highlighted how implementation depends on more than frameworks and commitments. Professional capacity, reliable data and practical methodologies are critical to enabling road and transport authorities to put sustainable transport principles into practice.
Citing additional tools and resources like the IRF Professional Trainings, IRF supports practitioners in developing the technical and management capabilities needed to address challenges across road safety, infrastructure and asset management. The training portfolio provides opportunities for professionals to strengthen their knowledge and apply international approaches to real-world road-sector challenges.
Alice also referenced IRF's practical projects and knowledge resources, including the Ten Step Plan for Safer Road Infrastructure, which provides a structured approach for integrating road safety into infrastructure planning and delivery. By providing a practical sequence of actions, the initiative helps stakeholders move from road safety principles towards implementation.
Another key resource highlighted was World Road Statistics (WRS), IRF's long-running international road and transport data resource. WRS brings together data from countries and territories across multiple road and transport indicators, providing an evidence base that can support benchmarking, analysis and informed decision-making.
The webinar underscored the importance of designing transport systems around the diversity of people and communities they serve. Roads influence access to employment, education, healthcare, markets and social opportunities, making accessibility, safety and inclusion essential considerations in transport planning and infrastructure delivery.
Alice joined speakers from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Asian Development Bank, UN ESCAP, Seongnam City, the National Road Fund of Liberia, International Disability Alliance, UITP, Walk21 Foundation and Fika for the discussion.
IRF Road Safety Auditors Registry Reaches New Milestone
Over 350 professionals, enhanced functionality and an expanding international capacity-building programme
Within two years of its launch, the International Road Federation's International Registry for Road Safety Auditors has reached a new stage in its development. Now covering over 350 road safety professionals worldwide, the platform introduces new features that make it easier for road authorities, project owners and development partners to identify and engage qualified Road Safety Auditors (RSA).
The Registry was established in October 2024 with the support of the TotalEnergies Foundation to promote consistent professional standards in Road Safety Auditing and provide road authorities, project owners and development partners with a reliable means of identifying appropriately qualified and experienced auditors.
The latest development of the platform turns the Registry into an active, practical resource for the road sector. Users can search for registered professionals and contact individual auditors directly through the platform, while auditors benefit from greater international visibility and formal recognition of their qualifications and experience.
One Registry Serving Different Needs Across the Road Sector
For Road Authorities, Project Owners and Development Partners: Easily identify verified professionals with recognised Road Safety Audit qualifications and experience for upcoming projects.
For Experienced Road Safety Auditors: IRF accreditation provides international professional recognition and direct visibility to organisations seeking RSA expertise.
For Engineers Seeking to Become Auditors: IRF provides a structured pathway through recognised training and progressive levels of professional accreditation.
Building Sustainable National Capacity
The effectiveness of Road Safety Audits ultimately depends on the availability of suitably trained and experienced professionals. In many countries, however, limited local capacity means that audits remain dependent on a relatively small pool of specialists or international expertise.
Alongside the international Registry, the IRF therefore works with national road authorities to strengthen their own Road Safety Audit capacity. Building on successful initiatives with road administrations in several countries, our support can include professional training, the development of competency requirements and support for national accreditation mechanisms.
The objective is to help countries progressively develop a sustainable pool of qualified auditors and embed Road Safety Auditing more systematically within road project planning and delivery.
Need Further Information?
Whether you are a road authority looking to build local capacity, an auditor seeking international accreditation, an engineer seeking training, or a project owner needing verified experts - we are here to help. Reach out to our team to discuss your specific needs.
Email us: accreditation@irfofficial.org
IRF Launches 63rd Edition of World Road Statistics with Expanded 2019–2024 Dataset
IRF Launches 63rd Edition of World Road Statistics with Expanded 2019–2024 Dataset
The International Road Federation (IRF) has launched the 63rd edition of IRF World Road Statistics (WRS), providing an expanded and updated global dataset covering road and transport indicators across 211 countries and territories.
The WRS 2026 Edition brings together data for the 2019–2024 reporting period, alongside expanded historical coverage from 2000 onwards. With more than 200 indicators across 11 categories, the latest edition provides policymakers, road authorities, researchers, industry and other stakeholders with a comprehensive evidence base for understanding road and transport systems worldwide.
The updated dataset is available free of charge through the IRF WRS Data Warehouse, with no paywalls or hidden fees. The continued development and accessibility of WRS is supported by the TotalEnergies Foundation and the Michelin Corporate Foundation.
More than 18,900 new and updated data points
The 2026 edition incorporates more than 18,900 new and updated data points covering 2019–2024, strengthening both the timeliness and depth of the database.
Among the key additions and updates are:
- 9,086 brand-new data points for 2024, with core transport indicators reported for 122 countries and territories.
- 9,853 new and updated data points for 2019–2023, including 6,238 newly added and 3,615 revised data points.
- 7,856 new data points covering 2000–2018 across more than 70 key countries, expanding historical time-series coverage.
- 5,452 historical data points revised for 2000–2018, following methodological enhancements and updated source inputs to strengthen cross-country comparability.
- 211 countries and territories covered across the complete 2000–2024 dataset.
Together, these updates provide users with greater capacity to examine both current conditions and longer-term developments in road and transport systems.
A stronger evidence base for road and transport decisions
The WRS is designed to help stakeholders move from fragmented information to a more consistent understanding of road transport trends.
Data are collected annually through the IRF’s global survey of national statistical offices and other primary sources, with direct coordination with countries, statistical agencies and relevant institutions. The information undergoes verification and validation by IRF and is complemented by secondary sources.
The result is a global database that enables users to analyse, compare and report on road and transport trends at national, regional and global levels.
The 2026 update includes substantial additions across key areas of the sector. For the 2019–2024 reporting period, the primary update breakdown includes:
- 4,277 updates on road accidents
- 2,912 updates covering vehicle production, imports, registrations and exports
- 2,011 updates on road networks
- 1,069 updates on vehicles in use
These indicators can support analysis of road network development, vehicle fleets, road safety, transport activity and broader changes in road systems.
The IRF World Road Statistics 2026 is now available through the WRS Data Warehouse, providing free access to the updated global dataset.
