Sustainable transport goes beyond moving from point A to B. It aligns with environmental consciousness and community well-being. Recognising its multifaceted importance – providing jobs, promoting connectivity, ensuring equity, bolstering resilience, facilitating trade, and driving economic growth – the UN General Assembly (May 2023) established 26 November as the World Sustainable Transport Day.

The International Road Federation (IRF) marked this important celebration by hosting and participating to a number of events.

IRF featured also among the distinguished speakers of a high-level event hosted by ANAS and PIARC Italia in Rome on 21 November. Focusing on road safety, the event was opened by the Italian Minister of Transport. In addressing the audience, IRF’s DG, Susanna Zammataro stated “I am happy to see interventions on the various components of the safe system approach in the programme of this event. Too often when traveling around the world I still witness heated debates about what is more important: education? enforcement? infrastructure? The truth is that science and research show us that each of these elements is fundamental if we really want to succeed in overcoming this challenge”.

The week saw on 24^th November, IRF’s Director General, Susanna Zammataro, participate in a high-level panel hosted in Geneva by UNECE discussing action to enhance global transportation safety together with leaders from the sector including Régis Farret (Vice Chair, Inland Transport Committee, UNECE), Yves van der Straaten (Secretary General at OICA), Jean Todt (United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety), Nneka Henry (Head of the UNRSF – UN Road Safety Fund) and Nhan Tran (Head of Safety and Mobility at the World Health Organization).

“Properly designed road infrastructure is the backbone of a safe and efficient transportation system” said Susanna Zammataro. She stressed the pivotal role of road safety audits and that of well-trained, certified road safety auditors. “The significance of these audits lies not only in their ability to prevent mishaps but also in fostering a culture of continuous improvement in our road systems” she added.

Learn more about World Sustainable Transport Day here: http://www.worldsustainabletransportday.org/