More Than 100 Government Officials Attend IRF Road Safety Training in Taipei

On October 5-6, 2012 the Chinese Taipei Road Federation hosted the first segment of a five part executive seminar series on Safer Roads by Design™ in Taipei. The seminar also featured an exhibition to allow attendees to see firsthand some of the newest concepts and products being used in the road safety field. The CTRF was an excellent host with an outstanding venue for the training and as in past IRF events, the seminar could not have happened without the support of the sponsors including CECI Engineering Consultants, Trinity Highway Products, Hill & Smith, Sunsky, Transpo Industries, Geo Nerve Technology, and Barrier Systems. The Taipei seminar focused on focused on roadside safety and work zone safety. The presenters and the attendees discussed at length how some of these concepts could be implemented in Taipei to meet the challenge of the Decade of Action to reduce road fatalities by 50% by 2020. IRF Executive Vice President Michael Dreznes noted, “The attendees left the training seminar with additional KNOWLEDGE regarding these concepts, and a promise to use PRUDENCE to make these concepts reality with the understanding that their actions will show their WISDOM once they save a motorist’s or a road worker’s life.” “The attendees made some good strides toward road safety in Taipei and it was clear they understood that this was just the first step in a lifelong journey to improve road safety. They know that once they leave the seminar, they must continue to prepare for the marathon by continuing to move forward. They will need to change some attitudes to meet the commitment to the Decade of Action and they will have to fight for road safety” concluded Dreznes. IRF President Patrick Sankey added, “Chinese Taipei has always been a strong supporter of IRF and its Programs including the IRF Fellowship Program, which provided its first scholarship to young transportation professionals in 1949.” He concluded, “Yu-Min, an IRF Fellow from the Class of 2008 (University of Florida) was instrumental to the success of this Safer Roads By Design™ Training Seminar in Taipei.” Yu-Min organized a Fellows Reunion during the training seminar, which allowed Fellow alumni to renew acquaintances and to create new friends. The Fellows vowed to work together to help each other achieve professional success.