Road safety program reducing traffic deaths across South Asia

The South Asia Region is home to just 10 per cent of the world’s cars, trucks, and motorcycles, but accounts for 27 per cent of global traffic deaths.

To help reduce the number of road fatalities in the region, the University of Adelaide’s expertise in road safety and vehicle testing has been called upon by the Australian Government through its South Asia Regional Infrastructure Connectivity (SARIC) initiative.

From Monday 27 May to Friday 7 June 2024, the University of Adelaide’s Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR) and Professional and Continuing Education is welcoming a group of 17 transport professionals from countries across South Asia to undertake the SARIC Road Safety Management Training Program.

Through interactive site visits, panel discussions, networking events and workshops with world-renowned road safety researchers, the representatives from Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives and Bangladesh will be upskilling in road safety engineering and management principles, while developing the skills to apply a Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) lens to their work.

Associate Professor Jeremy Woolley, Director of CASR — Australia’s oldest multidisciplinary road safety research centre — said the Program will develop core capability for countries to develop effective approaches to their road safety management challenges.

"The SARIC Road Safety Management Training Program will provide participants with the means to evolve the road safety response in their countries to a more mature level, capable of delivering effective actions at a scale that can make a difference." Associate Professor Jeremy Woolley, Director of CASR

“Participants will be given a solid foundation in the technical and scientific knowledge behind leading road safety responses, while contextualising their individual leadership and management challenges specific to their own organisations.

“A number of experts will be sharing their knowledge including many leading researchers from CASR and several guest speakers, who will share their experiences in practicing road safety management and developing strategic responses,” he said.  

The SARIC Road Safety Management Training Program is just one of many Federal Government-funded international development initiatives delivered by Professional and Continuing Education in the past year, including the Australia Awards and Alumni Engagement Program – Philippines (AAAEP-P).

“We’re thrilled to be collaborating with our peers at CASR to deliver this program and contribute to the lifelong learning and growth of the participants involved,” Dr Nina James, General Manager of Professional and Continuing Education said.

“It is a fantastic showcase of the University of Adelaide’s unique ability to leverage the expertise of globally renowned researchers to deliver practical training for industry, with profound real-world impact.”

Dr Nina James, General Manager of Professional and Continuing Education

Shivani Manaktala, Team Leader of Training & Networking Services for SARIC said the SARIC Road Safety Management Training Program is making a valuable contribution to SARIC’s broader aim of enabling more, better-quality, and socially inclusive transport infrastructure in the South Asia Region.  

“The Australian Government has a long-standing commitment and contribution to sustainable and inclusive infrastructure development in South Asia,” she said.

“Enhancing regional connectivity through transport investments like SARIC can address major constraints to economic growth, and most importantly, reducing the number of lives lost on roads.” 

SARIC is funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.