10 July 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - The Safe Mobility 4 All & 4 Life (SM4A4L) initiative first edition has successfully concluded with the graduation ceremony at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, marking an important milestone for road safety efforts across Latin America. Organized by UNITAR in partnership with FIA and with support from the FIA Foundation, the initiative brought together representatives from 13 countries to strengthen capacity, foster collaboration, and co-design projects that address the region’s pressing road safety challenges.

The SM4A4L initiative is a pioneering effort designed to empower the International Automobile Federation (FIA) Clubs and government authorities to work together on advancing safer, more inclusive and sustainable mobility. Over several months, participants engaged in a comprehensive training curriculum covering four areas of knowledge:

• Road safety for children
• Road safety for young people
• Road safety for adults
• Road safety for seniors

Delivered through 56 online modules, mentoring sessions, and culminating with an in-person fellowship and graduation in Geneva, the programme emphasised the Safe System approach and the goal of Vision Zero, working towards a future with no deaths or serious injuries on the road.

What set this programme apart was its shared ownership model. Rather than treating road safety as the sole responsibility of governments, SM4A4L encouraged FIA Clubs and public authorities to jointly identify local challenges and develop evidence-based solutions tailored to their countries. Throughout the programme, participants benefited from personalised mentorship by international experts and joined a growing network of peers across Latin America.

Each country team developed a national project during the programme, addressing local priorities such as:

• Improving motorcycle safety infrastructure in Argentina and Costa Rica,
• Developing child-focused road safety policies in Peru,
• Modernising youth driver education in Chile and the Dominican Republic,
• Implementing intelligent monitoring systems for commercial transport in Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador,
• Redesigning hazardous school zones in Mexico.

During the graduation event in Geneva, participants presented their projects to an audience that included senior leaders from UNITAR, FIA, and road safety experts. The ceremony also highlighted the important role that mentorship, data-driven approaches, and multi-stakeholder collaboration play in achieving long-term road safety outcomes.

These projects are ready for the next phase of implementation with the financial support of the FIA President’s Development Fund and local partners.

UNITAR Executive Director Michelle Gyles-McDonnough congratulated the graduates, emphasizing that

This is not just an endpoint, but the beginning of deeper collaboration and practical action that will save lives.