2nd Caribbean Regional Congress Exceeds Expectations

The IRF recently held its 2^nd Caribbean Regional Congress from May 15–17, 2013. Following last year’s event in Jamaica, this year’s activities took place in Bridgetown Barbados. The three-day event provided Caribbean road safety participants and delegates the unique opportunity to access the region’s fast-evolving infrastructure needs and network with regional and international experts. The Congress also gave participants the opportunity to interact with and learn from one another. The IRF provided numerous keynote speakers such as Deputy Chief Technical Officer of the Barbados Ministry of Works & Transport, Cheryl Bennett-Inniss, Executive Vice President of the IRF, Michael Dreznes, Permanent Secretary of St. Lucia, Allison John, and multiple other important road safety leaders and advocates. This year’s Congress also marked the two-year anniversary of the United Nation’s Decade of Action for Road Safety, which outlines a goal of “stabilizing and then reducing’ global road traffic fatalities by 2020.” The highlighted topics of this year’s event included Road Safety Audits, Data Collection and Vulnerable Road Users. Another issue addressed was the impact of Climate Change upon the Caribbean’s road infrastructure and the effects of the roads on the environment.