First Latin American Regional Meeting
of the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety
Mexico City, Mexico
5–7 November 2024.
Click here to access the Spanish version
As a leading civil society voice on road safety, we convened our members and the road safety community to the First Latin American Regional Meeting of the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety, which took place November 5-7, 2024 in Mexico City, Mexico, addressing the most urgent and critical issues facing the road safety community in Latin America.
The Regional Meeting equipped, inspired, mobilized and connected NGOs and other stakeholders working in the field of road safety and safe mobility to contribute more effectively to the 2021-2030 Decade of Action for Road Safety and the Sustainable Development Agenda in general.
At the start of the Regional Meeting, the symposium succeeded in bringing together decision-makers and industry professionals at the regional level to discuss road safety and mobility interventions that will generate a return on investment and explore models for investing in them.
Session I: Reducing the death toll in Latin America: opportunities and obstacles
The panel discussed “best buys” in terms of interventions that effectively reduce burden in the region, which interventions to invest in, and provided a list of joint efforts that identify regional opportunities and barriers. The panel discussed which investments result in the best return on investment and which do not. Practices for effective prioritization and barriers to this were discussed.
Session II: Leveraging existing and new investments
While the first session established best buys and which evidence-based interventions provide the best return on investment and which do not; this session explored funding models. What are the existing funding sources in high and low income countries and what are the new funding models for road safety and safe mobility? How are they made available and scaled up? What is the role of NGOs in driving these models?
Session III: Preparations for the 4th Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Morocco
The Ministerial Conference on Road Safety to be held in Morocco in 2025 provides an opportunity for NGOs to drive change and make a significant impact. By actively participating in the conference and associated activities, we can work together for a safer and more sustainable future for all road users.
On the second day of our Regional Meeting, the NGO members were in charge of determining the contents. The Alliance opened a call for abstracts to NGOs, governments and regional stakeholders to present projects and best practices, organize workshops and facilitate and/or moderate sessions, among other active roles, during the regional meeting.
Session I – 30km/h & speed management
During this parallel session we worked in a workshop led by NGO members of the Alliance on speed management and the need for 30km/h speeds in urban environments. The objective of this workshop was to share the experiences and strategies used by NGOs, working together, to influence legislative processes to achieve maximum safe speeds in Latin American cities, both at the local and national levels.
Session II – Licensing for road safety that saves lives
During this workshop, the benefits of the Points Based Driving License System, demonstrated in research and applications in different countries, were presented. The successful case of the application of the Points Based Driving License System in Spain was presented; and the potential of applying the system in Latin America was analyzed.
Session III – Public transport & gender
During this parallel session we worked in a workshop that involved a journey towards a systemic approach in which the rethinking of mobility takes shape in practical tools and measurable indicators.
Walkshop: visit to Metrobus
The Metrobús México team accompanied us on this tour, where the electric buses were presented and their operation and integration into the Metrobús system was explained. The safe infrastructure elements and the interventions implemented to reduce traffic incidents were highlighted.
Session IV – Infrastructure and safe mobility
During this session, a workshop was presented on the infrastructure needed to provide safe mobility for pedestrians. The workshop aimed to disseminate successful initiatives, interventions and tools developed by five Alianza member organizations and their contribution to creating safer and more inclusive cities.
Session V – Evidence-based strategic communication to promote road safety
This workshop, based on the work and experience of the Vital Strategies team, provided knowledge, tools and methodologies to equip participants to advocate for the thoughtful promotion and implementation of policies and projects that lead to socio-behavioral changes that can be adapted in their work and contexts.
Session VI – Road Safety and Motorcycles in the World
Road safety for motorcycle users in Latin America faces multiple challenges. During this panel discussion, experiences and visions on the state of road safety for motorcycle users were exchanged, based on the lessons learned in Mexico and Colombia.
Session VII – Comprehensive post-crash care
Representatives of the Gabi Bici Blanca Collective, FICVI, APASIT, and the Monica Licona Foundation presented a workshop on the need to create a network of care, including psychosocial assistance and legal orientation that every victim should receive.
FICVI and the Safe Mobility Coalition invited to participate in the “MoviliTour No More Road Deaths”, a tour of various sites of cultural interest in Mexico City, using different modes of mobility.
During the tour, participants witnessed the yellow lighting of monumental buildings in honor of the victims of road crashes. This initiative sought to remember the victims of road crashes and demand a change in driving behaviors that affect lives in Latin America.
During the Regional Meeting, a working artist translated key NGO advocacy messages into a giant painting. Yesterman’s painting featured the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 colors, Alliance Priority Interventions that protect pedestrians and cyclists, doodles, representing road users, and slogans in English and Spanish related to key UN Global Road Safety Week and #CommittoAct campaign messages, including #RethinkMobility, #MakeitSafe, and #SafetyisOurRight.
The Latin America Chapter members held their meeting during the third day. This meeting provided a platform for members to exchange their views on various aspects of road safety advocacy, sharing expertise at both the country and regional levels. During the discussions, the Latin America Chapter members reviewed the expected outcomes from the 4th Ministerial Meeting in Morocco and agreed on the importance of securing measurable and strong commitments from their respective Ministries. These commitments include:
The members also identified the strengths and expertise they bring to the network. They emphasized the need for prioritization based on evidence of the local context, and agreed on four key topics of common interest for the region. These areas are central to their continued advocacy and collaboration within the region.:
Download the presentations that our keynote speakers used during the Regional Meeting HERE.
Relive the Regional Meeting again by looking at the pictures of the three-day event HERE.
During the Regional Meeting we updated our Call to Action. Access the document HERE.
The Foundation’s main objective in taking part in the meeting was to deepen our relationship with the partner organizations that are members of the Alliance. To get to know the projects and tools used by the organizations, to identify possible synergies and to share with others our experience of almost 30 years for safer traffic. We believe that in this sense we were able to meet our objectives and the event was a success. Among the main insights we had during the meeting, we highlight the consolidation of the understanding of the importance of networking between organizations, in a very close and strategic way.
Eduardo César Bohn
Fundação Thiago de Moraes Gonzaga
The Regional Meeting was an excellent opportunity to connect with other organizations in the region and to train and update us on new trends and best practices in safe mobility in Latin America. I believe that speed management is the fundamental issue on which we must redouble our efforts and work together with governments, international organizations and companies to achieve real and significant changes. I also believe that we must involve more strongly the youth of our countries, who are the most vulnerable and affected users, so that they become agents of change that continue and deepen the work we have already been doing. I left very motivated to link up with other organizations to support us and to think of projects and campaigns together.
Martín Galanternik
MiNU
The greatest impact has been to understand the magnitude of collective efforts in Latin America to address road safety. The meeting made it clear that, although each NGO faces unique challenges and with specific motivations, regional collaboration can enhance the impact of our local initiatives. It is in these types of spaces that the phrase “unity is strength” becomes much more meaningful!
Paola Carvajal
MOVIDANA
