The Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakech, Morocco on 18-20 February 2025, with the theme of “Commit to Life”, will bring leaders and experts together to accelerate action towards the Sustainable Development Goals’ target of halving global road deaths by 2030.

Halfway through the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, and with just five years left to achieve the Global Goals for Sustainable Development, participants will assess progress, identify priorities, share knowledge, forge and strengthen alliances, and advance commitments and actions to save more lives on the world’s roads.

Road safety is an urgent and preventable global health crisis. Road crashes claim the lives of nearly 1.2 million people around the world each year – around 3200 every day – and are the leading cause of death among children and young people aged 5-29.

Yet global road deaths are falling, slightly. More than half of all UN Member States report declining deaths in recent years, and 10 of these countries have halved deaths in 10 years, showing that a 50% reduction is possible. At the Ministerial Conference, participants will learn from, and build on, these successes to spur more improvements around the world.

Participants will include ministers, heads of national road safety agencies, government representatives from authorities at all levels as well as from connected sectors, parliamentarians, experts from the United Nations, civil society, business and academia.

The IRF will be stationed at  Booth D1 throughout the conference, and we look forward to engaging in discussions with you there. Attendees may reserve a meeting slot with IRF representatives through this form:

Co-hosted by the IRF and Abertis, this session will take place as part of the 3rd World Youth Assembly for Road Safety (15–16 February 2025), organised by the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety and Youth for Road Safety (YOURS). Scheduled from 10:30 to 11:30, it will explore why good road design and effective road operations are essential for creating safer, more sustainable, and resilient mobility. Speakers will also discuss key responsibilities and actionable steps to advance this mission.

The UN’s Global Plan for the Decade of Action on Road Safety highlights the importance of safe infrastructure in eliminating or minimising risks for all road users, particularly the most vulnerable. The Plan recommends conducting road safety audits, applying star ratings to all designs, and prioritising speed management and investment to improve road safety.

Aligned to the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, the Ten Steps to 2030 for Safer Road Infrastructure Event will be held on 17 February 2025 from 09:00 to 17:00 in Fes 2, Palais des Congrès, Marrakech, hosted by the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), International Road Federation (IRF) and PIARC (World Road Association).

It will bring together 150-200 leaders and road safety experts from around the world to accelerate action towards the Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDG) target of halving road deaths and injuries by 2030, with a particular focus on how to eliminate high-risk roads and streets for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and vehicle occupants.

The impressive road safety impact of the Ten Step Plan for Safer Road Infrastructure will be shared, including its implementation success in countries, and its life-saving potential as a template that can be adopted by any country to achieve safer roads and mobility for a sustainable future for all.

Taking place from 10:15 to 11:30, this session, hosted by the IRF and UNESCWA, will focus on road safety challenges in North and West Africa, where vulnerable road users—such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists—are disproportionately affected.

The discussion will centre on the UNRSF “Safe and Inclusive Road Design in North and West Africa” project, which seeks to address these issues by fostering collaboration, updating road design standards, and ensuring inclusivity in transport infrastructure planning across Mauritania, Morocco, and Senegal. Led by UNESCWA, with IRF as the implementation lead, the project is supported by ANASER, NARSA, and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Mauritania, along with funding from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

This special session will provide a platform to showcase the project’s approach, share insights from similar initiatives, and engage key stakeholders in a constructive dialogue on advancing safe and inclusive road design for sustainable development in the region.

This session, coordinated by the International Road Federation (IRF) and the World Road Association (PIARC), will take place from 11:45 to 13:15 and will focus on the critical role of road design and operations in enhancing safety, sustainability, and resilience in mobility.

Discussions will align with the UN’s Global Plan for the Decade of Action on Road Safety, which highlights the importance of safe infrastructure in eliminating or minimising risks for all road users, particularly the most vulnerable. Experts will explore key recommendations, including conducting road safety audits, applying star ratings to all designs, and emphasising the need for speed management and investment.

To achieve the SDG target on road safety, collaboration is essential. This session will bring together leaders to share impactful practices, strategies, and ongoing projects, while also addressing challenges and opportunities for improving road infrastructure safety worldwide.