“Road safety is not an abstract concept — it is practical, urgent, and deeply human” 

16 September 2025, Lyon France – IRF Acting Director General (DG) Gonzalo Alcaraz joined the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) Global Tolling Summit to discuss the IRF Auditor’s Registry – a platform that provides a list of certified professionals qualified to conduct road safety audits, based on requirements established by the organisation.  

With the support of TotalEnergies Foundation, the IRF Auditors Registry ensures quality, transparency and accountability in road design and maintenance from the feasibility stage to the assessment of existing roads.  

Road Safety Audits and its Role in Safety  

A road safety audit (RSA) is a formal, independent check of a road project at different stages. It can be applied across all stages of road design: from feasibility and design, to construction, pre-opening and on existing roads that may have been unaudited. Through audits, experts would be able to identify risks before they turn into crashes.  

Despite its proven value, road safety auditing practices have been inconsistent across countries. Training programs differ, standards are uneven, and the quality of audits varies widely. Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and international donors increasingly require road safety audits for project approval, but they face the pressing challenge of identifying qualified auditors.

The IRF International Road Safety Auditors Registry 

The registry provides a transparent, standardised, and globally accessible system to:

• Certify auditors based on clear training and experience criteria.
• Strengthen local capacity, especially in low- and middle-income countries, by training and accrediting young professionals and women engineers.
• Give governments, project owners, and financiers confidence that audit teams are composed of properly qualified professionals.

By establishing this registry, IRF helps raise the quality and consistency of road safety audits worldwide, directly contributing to the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 and the upcoming UN Decade of Action for Sustainable Transport 2026-2035.

 Setting the Standard 

As a certification tool, the IRF Auditors Registry sets a new global standard that provides governments with confidence that projects are audited by skilled professionals. It also helps multilateral development banks strengthen safeguard policies, gives toll road operators and concessionaires access to credible auditors and creates career opportunities for young engineers worldwide, contributing to a just transition in mobility. 

By embedding auditing into every stage of road projects, the IRF Auditors Registry supports countries in achieving the Global Goals, building resilience to climate shocks, and embedding a culture of accountability in road design and management. 

Certification Levels

IRF certifies auditors based on training hours completed and documented audit experience. There are three levels of recognition:

• Observer:
  • Completion of a minimum 60-hour Road Safety Audit (RSA) training course recognized by IRF.No audit experience required.
  • Entry point for young professionals and new auditors.
• Team Member – trained auditors with some audit experience.
  • Completion of the RSA training course (≥ 60 hours).Participation in at least five road safety audits as an observer/trainee.
  • Demonstrated ability to contribute to audit teams under supervision.
• Team Leader – senior auditors with advanced training and proven experience.
  • Significant audit experience: typically leading 5+ road safety audits.
  • Ability to manage audit teams, prepare reports, and take overall responsibility for audit outcomes.

Auditors must keep their profiles current with recent training and audit experience. An annual maintenance fee is also required to remain listed as active in the registry. Registry entries are verified by IRF to ensure transparency and credibility

The Path Forward  

The International Road Safety Auditor Registry is a powerful step toward safer, more sustainable mobility worldwide. By raising standards, empowering professionals and ensuring that every road project is rigorously audited, we move closer to a future where roads are designed not just to move vehicles, but to protect lives. 

Learn more about the IRF Auditors Registry and see if there are any accredited auditors in your country by going to the website.