A week of action begins today as IBTTA launches its second annual Global Road Safety Week, aimed at reducing deaths and injuries on the world's roads, under the theme Be Safe Together: Be the Highway Hero.
You can download a fact sheet and access campaign resources at a new digital platform - BeSafeTogether.org - which has been unveiled for the event, highlighting best practice and sharing success stories.
Road crashes kill over 1.19 million people each year, according to the World Health Organisation, and are the leading cause of death for those aged five to 29.
“As toll operators around the world come together this week, we’re reinforcing our shared commitment to safety,” said James Hofmann, IBTTA president and executive director/CEO of the North Texas Tollway Authority.
“With tolling operations in nearly 100 countries, our industry is a powerful force—driving the technologies, policies, and actions that make every safe journey possible.”
“Be Safe Together reflects the power of collective action—how small efforts across agencies, countries, and individuals add up to something truly lifesaving,” said Bill Halkias, CEO of New Attica Tollway Concession Co. and president emeritus of Hellastron.
“That was the vision I set during my 2024 IBTTA presidency, and I’m proud to see our industry continue to unite behind it.”
Global Road Safety Week starts with a live international webinar at 11am ET on Monday 23 June, featuring senior transportation officials and road safety leaders. Panelists will share bold strategies to reduce traffic fatalities through infrastructure, policy, technology, and public engagement.
“IBTTA plays a vital role in bringing transportation leaders together to share effective road safety strategies—from technology and policy to public engagement,” said Ferzan Ahmed, executive director of the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission and chair of Global Road Safety Week.
“This week is about learning from each other and turning insight into action to save lives.”
Who is speaking during Global Road Safety Week?
• Aiscat / Piarc – World Road Association – Emanuela Stocchi, acting director, Aiscat; president, Piarc
• Asfa (Association of French Motorway Companies) – Christophe Boutin, executive director
• Federal Highway Administration – Gloria M. Shepherd, executive director
• Maryland Department of Transportation – Samantha Biddle, deputy secretary
• New Attica Tollway Concession Co – Bill Halkias, CEO, New Attica; president emeritus, Hellastron
• New Jersey Department of Transportation – Francis O’Connor, transportation commissioner
• North Texas Tollway Authority – James Hofmann, executive director and CEO, North Texas Tollway Authority; president, IBTTA
• Ohio Department of Transportation – Pamela Boratyn, director
• Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission – Ferzan Ahmed, executive director, Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission; second vice president, IBTTA
• Vinci Highways – Tanguy Bertolus, chief technical and operations director
Each day of the campaign will spotlight a critical road safety issue:
Monday, 23 June: Global leadership webinar
Tuesday, 24 June: Distracted driving
Wednesday, 25 June: Speeding, aggressive and wrong way driving
Thursday, 26 June: Impaired driving
Friday, 27 June: Personal responsibility
There will be interviews with Be Safe Together campaign allies like the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Students Against Destructive Decisions, EndDD.org and others.
Participants are encouraged to share their activities, innovations and safety stories using the hashtags #BeSafeTogether and #BeTheHighwayHero.
