iRAP announces ninth centre of excellence

7 November 2018

Chulalongkorn University and iRAP have signed a Centre of Excellence agreement today, which will support the development of road infrastructure safety in Thailand as well as internationally.

iRAP Chief Executive Officer Rob McInerney said addressing the level of death and injury on roads in Thailand is a priority for the country and the world.

"The World Health Organisation reports that Thailand has the second highest road traffic fatality rate in the world with an annual estimate of over 24,000 deaths or 66 deaths every day. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists account for 83% of road fatalities in Thailand and road crashes cost the country an estimated 3 to 5 % of its GDP," Mr McInerney said. (WHO, 2018)

Speaking from the Safety 2018 Conference in Bangkok, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Associate Professor Kasem Choocharukul said, '' We are delighted to join with iRAP’s nine Centres of Excellence world-wide to provide road infrastructure safety technical leadership.

“As a Centre of Excellence, the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University will focus on building local capacity for high quality risk mapping, star rating and safer road investment planning assessments across Thailand. We will also work in partnership with the Ministry of Transport, Department of Highways, Department of Rural Roads, Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the University and other key stakeholders to build a locally led ThaiRAP programme that will save lives and serious injuries across the country”.

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