Senior representatives from international development organisation Transaid played a key role in expert discussions at the fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, held last week in Marrakech. The conference, hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of Morocco, gathered global leaders to assess road safety progress at the halfway point of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.
Among the key speakers was Transaid Trustee and Head of Road Safety at Holcim, Astrid Van Der Burgt, who underscored the importance of corporate responsibility in road safety. Speaking on a panel about workplace road risks, she highlighted the need for businesses to integrate road safety into their policies and supply chain management.
“Private companies must acknowledge road safety as a workplace risk and embed it into their policies, from procurement to performance management,” said Van Der Burgt.
“We must extend the demand for high safety standards to our transport operations – whether carried out by employees or contracted transporters. It’s essential the private sector take ownership of road safety within its supply chains; this should be treated as a core business priority – because every crash prevented is a life saved.”
Sam Clark, Head of Programmes for Transaid, contributed to discussions on governmental accountability in road safety, focusing on Transaid’s ongoing efforts in Kenya’s motorcycle taxi industry. He highlighted the success of the National Helmet Wearing Coalition, an initiative launched in 2021 with backing from the FIA Foundation.
Now in its third phase, the programme aims to improve helmet safety for motorcycle taxi riders and their 22 million passengers annually. Clark’s presentation reinforced the need for sustained commitment and stronger policy enforcement to enhance road safety in high-risk regions.
The conference marked a crucial moment in global road safety efforts, especially as Africa hosted the event for the first time. Discussions covered road safety governance, mobility trends, private sector involvement, financing, and road traffic injury data, with a sharp focus on Africa’s progress in reducing traffic-related fatalities.
With 2025 approaching as the midway point of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety, experts at the conference stressed the need for accelerated efforts and stronger policy implementation.
Transaid continues to lead initiatives that improve road safety and sustainable transport solutions in developing countries. To learn more about their projects or find out how to support their work, visit www.transaid.org.
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