17 November 2020, Geneva, Switzerland – UNITAR’s Road Safety Global Training Initiative successfully launched the Learning App on Management Practices for Safer Roads, with the aim of providing in-hand practical solutions, participatory contributions from different stakeholders including the private sector, and results-based interventions.

The Learning App is based on the Management Practices for Safer Roads Toolkit, featuring projects and local interventions in cities in Brazil, China, Dominican Republic, India, Mexico and South Africa. This Toolkit, available now on mobile devices, will greatly benefit the organizations and governments that wish to make a positive impact towards improving road safety. The management methodology presented in the App and in the toolkit has been donated by AB InBev for the use of governments and road users around the world.

The Launch Event of the Learning App hosted by UNITAR and the International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders in Istanbul (CIFAL Istanbul) took place on 12 November 2020 with the participation of 122 representatives from the public and private sectors, academia, and NGOs.

Dr. Deisi Kusztra, Member of UNITAR’s Board of Trustees and President of the World Family Organization, reminded the role that we all must play in reducing the high death toll and crashes rates. With that mission in mind, she highlighted that the brand-new Learning App: “Serves as a substantive contribution to advance our shared Goal of making cities safe, resilient and sustainable.  The Agenda 2030 reminds us of the urgency to provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons (SDG 11.2)”.

Mr. John Blood, Chief of Legal and Corporate Affairs of AB InBev, reiterated the company’s commitment to continue furthering their shared goal to contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of reducing the road traffic injuries and deaths by 50% by 2030: “We’re hopeful that making this Toolkit available on mobile devices will greatly benefit the organizations and governments that wish to make a positive impact toward improving road safety. The App's methodology has been continuously tested and improved through several local projects in countries such as Brazil, China, Dominican Republic, India, Mexico and South Africa.  Its adoption in additional towns, cities and countries will continue to lead to positive results and save more lives, especially now that it’s available on mobile devices”.

Following the presentation of the App and its main functionalities and features, Mr. Victor Chetty, Director of the Road Traffic Inspectorate of the Department of Transport from the Province of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa, also shared the benefits of the Toolkit and showed how KwaZulu Natal gained reductions in road traffic fatalities and injuries by enforcing the police presence in the streets, and by identifying crash “hot spots”.

Mr. Akshay Gupta, Senior Manager for the Public Policy and Regulatory Advocacy of AB InBev, presented the successful implementation of the Management Practices for Safer Roads Toolkit in the City of Gurugram, in India, through a multi-stakeholder action plan that includes remedial measures to tackle “hot spots” throughout the city.

The Launch event was facilitated by Dr. Ahmet Aydemir, Director of CIFAL Istanbul. Ms. Estrella Merlos from UNITAR highlighted the need for partnerships to advance road safety related targets and invited participants to join road safety training activities and to request technical assistance for implementation of the Management Practices for Safer Roads Toolkit.

This event took place to commemorate the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, declared by UN Member States to remember the many millions who have been killed and injured on the world’s roads, as well as their families, acknowledge the crucial work of the emergency crews, police and medical professionals, and promote evidence-based actions to prevent and eventually stop further road traffic deaths and injuries.

The Learning App can be downloaded for free from Google Play and Apple Store.