| In 2005 an estimated 440,000
people were killed on the region’s roads. This death
toll is forecast to rise to 660,000 by 2010 amounting to two
thirds of the world total. The Shanghai meeting examined the
potential of safer roads, vehicles and drivers to reverse this
deteriorating road safety situation.
Delegates were also invited to attend a reception hosted
by Ferrari team principal, Jean Todt at the Chinese F1
Grand Prix. Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher, a Member
of the Commission for Global Road Safety, spoke to the
seminar participants and urged them to support the Make
Roads Safe campaign.
He said: “Motoring clubs can play a key role in
lobbying for the implementation of the recommendations
of our Commission’s report.”
Participants included CEOs and Presidents from motoring
organisations from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India,
Japan, Macau, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore and Sri
Lanka as well as representatives from the Shanghai Municipal
government, the Chinese Ministries of Communication and
Security, the China Automotive Technology & Research
Centre, the World Health Organisation, BP China, Bridgestone
China, and NCAP China.
Speakers at the seminar included Tony Bliss, the World
Bank’s Senior Road Safety Specialist, John Dawson,
Chairman of iRAP (& FIA Foundation Trustee) on road
infrastructure safety, Christian Gerondeau, President of
the French Federation of Automobile Clubs (& Foundation
Trustee) on the French experience of reducing road traffic
fatalities, Lauchlan McIntosh of the Australian Automobile
Association on the role of New Car Assessment Programmes
and David Ward, the Foundation’s Director General
on the Make Roads Safe Report and developments in the Asia
Pacific Region.
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