On 4 September, the Automóvil Club de El Salvador (ACES) successfully held the first ​Central American Congress on Mobility and Road Safety in San Salvador.

Gathering over 300 participants, among Government representatives, NGOs, International Organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), transport companies, Red Cross, PNUD (United Nations Program for Development), USAID, FIA Region IV representatives and management from Automobile Clubs across Central America and Caribbean (Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Belize), the Congress aimed at promoting and encouraging best practices in road safety and sustainable mobility.

Data from the Terrestrial Transit Division of the National Civil Police (PNC) indicated that 57 traffic accidents are registered daily in the country, resulting in seven deaths and 30 injuries among pedestrians and motorists. In the last 10 years, more than 1,000 people died every year in traffic accidents in El Salvador.

A key strategy to reduce these numbers is to improve the public transportation system, explained Pablo Azorín, FIA IV Region Head of Road Safety and Environment.

During the Congress, the importance of policies and road safety practices, new opportunities and challenges for safe and sustainable mobility in the country, were also discussed.

"We must encourage the government to implement policies inspired by the approach of the Safe Systems for Road Safety, which protect vulnerable road users," said Vanessa Rubio, representative of ACES.

According to ACES representatives, the Congress successfully contributed to deepening a new culture of mobility, generating optimal vehicle flow, less pollution, and less dependence on fossil fuels.

In addition, the driver's responsibility and good driving behaviour were highlighted as important aspects to reduce considerably the number of crashes on the roads.