IRF | International Road Federation

The activities of IRF in India is not new.Four Regional Conferences were organized in India successfully since 2006 onwards on some of the most topical subjects like "Business & Environment for Future Road Development in India",Road Safety-Design,Construction and Operations of Roads",Mobility and Safety in Road Transport"and Accident Prevention:Road Safety Measures.On maturing the roots,IRF india Chapter was inaurgated on 5th Feb 2009,and the following officials have taken charge of India Chapter:

Mr.K.K.Kapila,Chairman

Mr.N.K.Sinha,Vice Chairman

Mr.G.Sharan,Vice Chairman

Mr.Raj Pal Arora,Secretary

Mr.Anupam Avasthi,Director

India has taken up the giant road development programme after 50 years,and country wide enhanced mobility has given rise to a huge road safety problem with the dubious distinction of highest road fatalities per year in the world .IRF India ,therefore,justifiably to 50% has been fixed for 2012,and therefore,a multi -pronged approch has been adopted with various planned activities as follows:

* A joint initiative of IRF India with Ministry of Road Transport & Highways,Govt.of India has been launched as National Campaign for "Reduction Of Road Fatalities"on 23 September 2009.

* 4th IRF Regional Conference,23-24 October 2009 on Accident Prevention:Road Safety Measures"with a galaxy of speakers from developing and developed world.

* Extensive inputs are being provided for amendment and modification of the Motor Vehicle Act of India,which needed much more stringent requirements of all provisions pertaining to licensing and control of road traffic in its totality.

* A recommendation has been sent for Govt.of India's consideration to provide exemption of customs duty for import of all advanced road safety devices including ITS.

* Another similar recommendation has been sent for Govt of India's consideration to provide tax exemption to corporate agency or philanthropist under or overpass,cycle path etc for enhancing safety.

* IRF is garnering support from both Government and corporate sources for a year long extensive campaign in Television,Radio,Print Media,Social Network,etc.

* Recommendation has been sent for Govt of India to issue directive for showing a 3-minutes Road Safety Film before showing any commercial film in cinema halls across the country.

* Has recommended to Govt.of India to make Road Safety Audit mandatory for all road projects in the country.

* Pursuing with Government and CorporateBodies to develop driver training schools with Simulators in every district of the country to ensure requisite skills in the driving population.

The insidious notion,that higher mobility is to be at the cost of higher road accidents ,is to be changed by instilling a culture of Road Safety in the future generations.It is already a national priority,as IRF India has launched the National Campaign jointly with MoRTH.The remaining task is to sensitize all planners,engineers and road managers to tackle this man-made calamity with extra zeal and passion,and produce better safety outcomes with yearly targets.