Initiative details
Despite significant advances in road safety, much of the world's road infrastructure continues to be planned, designed and constructed based primarily on compliance with geometric design standards rather than on the safety performance it delivers. While compliance with engineering standards is essential, it does not necessarily guarantee safe outcomes for all road users, particularly pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users.
Recognising this challenge, the European Union established the Road Infrastructure Safety Management (RISM) framework through Directives 2008/96/EC and (EU) 2019/1936, introducing a systematic, risk-based approach based on Road Safety Impact Assessments, Road Safety Audits, Network-Wide Road Safety Assessments and Road Safety Inspections to proactively identify and mitigate infrastructure-related risks throughout the road lifecycle.
However, the effective implementation of these infrastructure reviews depends on having Road Safety Auditors with appropriate competencies, practical experience and professional independence. Lack of standards for Road Safety Auditors training and professional certification means inconsistent quality of audits and inspections, and constraints the achievement of the targets of the adoption of the RISM guideline. ASEVI aimed at creating standards for the Road Safety Audit profession as critical for enabling countries to deliver the improvements of safety performance of their road infrastructure.
Recognising this challenge, the European Union established the Road Infrastructure Safety Management (RISM) framework through Directives 2008/96/EC and (EU) 2019/1936, introducing a systematic, risk-based approach based on Road Safety Impact Assessments, Road Safety Audits, Network-Wide Road Safety Assessments and Road Safety Inspections to proactively identify and mitigate infrastructure-related risks throughout the road lifecycle.
However, the effective implementation of these infrastructure reviews depends on having Road Safety Auditors with appropriate competencies, practical experience and professional independence. Lack of standards for Road Safety Auditors training and professional certification means inconsistent quality of audits and inspections, and constraints the achievement of the targets of the adoption of the RISM guideline. ASEVI aimed at creating standards for the Road Safety Audit profession as critical for enabling countries to deliver the improvements of safety performance of their road infrastructure.
Initiative date
Who was/is your target audience?
Policy makers
Public authorities
Young adults 17-25
Adults
Educational staff
Others
Topic
Improve vehicles and infrastructure
Knowledge building and sharing
Training
Organisation details
Asociación de Auditores de Seguridad Vial (ASEVI)
Association
Spain
Madrid
Contact name
Oscar Leonel Marenco Ruiz
Telephone number
+507-6949-2423
oscar.marenco@asevi-global.org
Website link
Project activities
If you work together with external partners, list the most important partners and briefly describe their role.
Society of Road Safety Auditors (SoRSA), United Kingdom
Co-developer of the Birmingham Declaration, contributing its technical expertise to establish internationally harmonised competency standards and professional requirements for Road Safety Auditors.
Fórum dos Auditores de Segurança Rodoviária (FASR), Portugal
Co-developer of the Birmingham Declaration, supporting the development of common professional standards and strengthening international collaboration in Road Safety Auditing.
International Road Federation (IRF)
Strategic partner in the establishment and promotion of the International Road Safety Auditors Registry, supporting the global recognition of qualified Road Safety Auditors and facilitating international dissemination through its worldwide network.
Co-developer of the Birmingham Declaration, contributing its technical expertise to establish internationally harmonised competency standards and professional requirements for Road Safety Auditors.
Fórum dos Auditores de Segurança Rodoviária (FASR), Portugal
Co-developer of the Birmingham Declaration, supporting the development of common professional standards and strengthening international collaboration in Road Safety Auditing.
International Road Federation (IRF)
Strategic partner in the establishment and promotion of the International Road Safety Auditors Registry, supporting the global recognition of qualified Road Safety Auditors and facilitating international dissemination through its worldwide network.
Please describe the project activities you carried/are carrying out and the time period over which these were implemented.
SEVI has been working to strengthen the Road Safety Audit profession since 2009.
Birmingham Declaration: In June 2019, ASEVI (Spain) promoted the idea of standardising training and professional certification with the Society of Road Safety Auditors (SoRSA, United Kingdom) and the Fórum dos Auditores de Segurança Rodoviária (FASR, Portugal), and reached an agreement to promote a single standard for RS Auditors, the “Birmingham Declaration”, that established the first internationally harmonised standards for RS Auditors education and professional certification.
Training and Certification: ASEVI developed the RS Auditor´s Certification Course aligned with EU and UK regulation and the Safe System, and ASEVI´s fellows have delivered it in over 10 countries and trained over 400 Auditors. The course has received very positive feedback and has attracted funding by global donors and multilateral development banks.
Advising on regulation: As RS Auditors standards depend on the proper regulation, the president of ASEVI was the lead advisor for the adaptation of the EU regulations in Türkiye (2021 to 2023), implementing regulation and training over 45 new auditors.
Promoting RSA Certification: In 2024, ASEVI supported the launch of the International Road Safety Auditors Registry, providing the first global roster for recognising professionals who meet the Birmingham standard.
The initiative continues through the delivery of the Certification Courses in more countries and promoting EU RISM regulations and best practices globally.
Birmingham Declaration: In June 2019, ASEVI (Spain) promoted the idea of standardising training and professional certification with the Society of Road Safety Auditors (SoRSA, United Kingdom) and the Fórum dos Auditores de Segurança Rodoviária (FASR, Portugal), and reached an agreement to promote a single standard for RS Auditors, the “Birmingham Declaration”, that established the first internationally harmonised standards for RS Auditors education and professional certification.
Training and Certification: ASEVI developed the RS Auditor´s Certification Course aligned with EU and UK regulation and the Safe System, and ASEVI´s fellows have delivered it in over 10 countries and trained over 400 Auditors. The course has received very positive feedback and has attracted funding by global donors and multilateral development banks.
Advising on regulation: As RS Auditors standards depend on the proper regulation, the president of ASEVI was the lead advisor for the adaptation of the EU regulations in Türkiye (2021 to 2023), implementing regulation and training over 45 new auditors.
Promoting RSA Certification: In 2024, ASEVI supported the launch of the International Road Safety Auditors Registry, providing the first global roster for recognising professionals who meet the Birmingham standard.
The initiative continues through the delivery of the Certification Courses in more countries and promoting EU RISM regulations and best practices globally.
In terms of implementation, what worked well and what challenges did you need to overcome?
The key success factor has been the strong collaboration between the leading European associations, ASEVI, SoRSA and FASR as reflected in Birmingham Declaration.
A second success factor is the implementation of the new standards for auditors coordinated with the improvements in local road safety regulations for infrastructure (either adaptation of EU RISM or similar), as the regulation defines the need to have formal audits and inspections and can formalize the application of Auditor's certification standards, such was the case of the implementation in Türkiye.
The principal challenge has been funding for promoting the standards and providing advisory to translate these agreed standards into widespread implementation. At the EU, RISM guidelines requires national regulatory frameworks that make Road Safety Audits and other RISM procedures part of standard infrastructure practice. However, regulatory reform so far does not include RS Auditors education and certification standards, and is often constrained by the limited availability of soundly qualified professionals capable of implementing these requirements.
Globally, there are no standards for road safety auditors nor for inspectors, nor good regulation for RS infrastructure management. So addressing the challenges on standards of infrastructure management and of RS Audits and Inspections has been slow mostly due to lack of resourcing to raise awareness at local governmental institutions and complexity in securing funding sources for courses.
Promoting road safety standards for audits has required a dual approach: advocating for the adoption of regulatory frameworks aligned with the EU best practices while simultaneously developing local technical capacity through the delivery of auditor´s education, professional certification, and institutional partnerships. Advancing regulation and capacity development in parallel has proven essential to enabling countries to sustainably implement RISM and strengthen the Road Safety Audit profession.
A second success factor is the implementation of the new standards for auditors coordinated with the improvements in local road safety regulations for infrastructure (either adaptation of EU RISM or similar), as the regulation defines the need to have formal audits and inspections and can formalize the application of Auditor's certification standards, such was the case of the implementation in Türkiye.
The principal challenge has been funding for promoting the standards and providing advisory to translate these agreed standards into widespread implementation. At the EU, RISM guidelines requires national regulatory frameworks that make Road Safety Audits and other RISM procedures part of standard infrastructure practice. However, regulatory reform so far does not include RS Auditors education and certification standards, and is often constrained by the limited availability of soundly qualified professionals capable of implementing these requirements.
Globally, there are no standards for road safety auditors nor for inspectors, nor good regulation for RS infrastructure management. So addressing the challenges on standards of infrastructure management and of RS Audits and Inspections has been slow mostly due to lack of resourcing to raise awareness at local governmental institutions and complexity in securing funding sources for courses.
Promoting road safety standards for audits has required a dual approach: advocating for the adoption of regulatory frameworks aligned with the EU best practices while simultaneously developing local technical capacity through the delivery of auditor´s education, professional certification, and institutional partnerships. Advancing regulation and capacity development in parallel has proven essential to enabling countries to sustainably implement RISM and strengthen the Road Safety Audit profession.
Evaluation
Please summarise how you have evaluated the initiative’s impact (e.g. social media reach, survey, feedback forms, statistics).
The initiative's impact has been evaluated through measurable professional and institutional outcomes.
Since its creation of the standards and the Course, more than 400 Road Safety Audit professionals have been trained, tested and certified globally, creating one of the largest international communities of qualified practitioners dedicated to improving the safety performance of road infrastructure.
All Certification courses require passing the final exam, and course feedback has consistently been highly positive.
A key indicator of success was that Türkiye saw clearly the convenience of the implementation of both standards, the Birmingham Declaration and EU Directives. The same approach is being discussed in several countries in Latin America at this time.
A recent indicator is the inclusion of the RISM and the Birmingham Declaration standards for a project selected by the United Nations Road Safety Fund. ASEVI developed the concept and will work with UNECE to implement parts of these new standards in countries outside of the EU starting in august 2026.
Together, the interest and feedback received demonstrate that the initiative has moved beyond education alone to establish a sustainable international ecosystem for developing, recognising, and continuously strengthening the Road Safety Audit profession based on EU best practices sharing EU expertise worldwide.
Since its creation of the standards and the Course, more than 400 Road Safety Audit professionals have been trained, tested and certified globally, creating one of the largest international communities of qualified practitioners dedicated to improving the safety performance of road infrastructure.
All Certification courses require passing the final exam, and course feedback has consistently been highly positive.
A key indicator of success was that Türkiye saw clearly the convenience of the implementation of both standards, the Birmingham Declaration and EU Directives. The same approach is being discussed in several countries in Latin America at this time.
A recent indicator is the inclusion of the RISM and the Birmingham Declaration standards for a project selected by the United Nations Road Safety Fund. ASEVI developed the concept and will work with UNECE to implement parts of these new standards in countries outside of the EU starting in august 2026.
Together, the interest and feedback received demonstrate that the initiative has moved beyond education alone to establish a sustainable international ecosystem for developing, recognising, and continuously strengthening the Road Safety Audit profession based on EU best practices sharing EU expertise worldwide.
What has been the effect of the activities?
The initiative has contributed to the professionalisation of Road Safety Auditing by establishing an EU compliant common standard framework for Auditors and creating a recognised pathway for education, certification, and continuous professional development. It has strengthened the technical capacity of professionals working in road authorities, consulting firms, academia, and international organisations, equipping them to apply internationally recognised Road Infrastructure Safety Management (RISM) practices.
More than 400 professionals have been certified through ASEVI's competency-based programmes, forming a growing international community of qualified Road Safety Auditors, delivering better audits and inspections in many countries across the globe.
Beyond individual capacity development, the initiative has fostered greater international collaboration based on EU best practices, between EU Based professional associations, international organisations, and global public institutions, creating momentum for the adoption of the RISM Guideline, the Safe System approach and the Birmingham Declaration standard. By strengthening both professional competencies and the institutional regulation and awareness, the initiative is helping countries build the expertise required to improve the safety performance of their road infrastructure and better protect all road users, particularly vulnerable road users.
More than 400 professionals have been certified through ASEVI's competency-based programmes, forming a growing international community of qualified Road Safety Auditors, delivering better audits and inspections in many countries across the globe.
Beyond individual capacity development, the initiative has fostered greater international collaboration based on EU best practices, between EU Based professional associations, international organisations, and global public institutions, creating momentum for the adoption of the RISM Guideline, the Safe System approach and the Birmingham Declaration standard. By strengthening both professional competencies and the institutional regulation and awareness, the initiative is helping countries build the expertise required to improve the safety performance of their road infrastructure and better protect all road users, particularly vulnerable road users.
Please briefly explain why your initiative is a good example of improving road safety.
This initiative is a strong example of improving road safety because it addresses one of the fundamental barriers to implementing the Safe System approach: the shortage of truly professionally qualified auditors and inspectors capable of systematically identifying and mitigating infrastructure-related risks.
Rather than focusing on individual projects, it strengthens both the individual and the institutional and professional capacity needed to embed Road Infrastructure Safety Management (RISM) into the lifecycle of road infrastructure. Through promoting internationally harmonised competency standards, professional certification, the initiative has created a sustainable framework for developing and recognising qualified Road Safety Auditors and applying EU best practices worldwide.
Training auditors means improving global standards and taking actions to improve more road infrastructure projects as these are subject to much better audits and inspections as each new auditor multiplies the benefits as more roads are inspected in a better way.
The model is highly replicable and can be applied to different legal, institutional, and cultural contexts. Multilateral Development Banks, Bilateral and other donor entities, professional associations, universities, road authorities, and governments can replicate the approach by adopting common competency standards, delivering specialised training, and promoting regulatory frameworks that support RISM implementation and implementing the standards for training and professional development created by ASEVI.
By combining international cooperation, professional recognition, and capacity development, the initiative provides a practical and scalable roadmap for strengthening road safety governance of the auditor´s profession and ultimately delivering safer infrastructure for all road users.
Rather than focusing on individual projects, it strengthens both the individual and the institutional and professional capacity needed to embed Road Infrastructure Safety Management (RISM) into the lifecycle of road infrastructure. Through promoting internationally harmonised competency standards, professional certification, the initiative has created a sustainable framework for developing and recognising qualified Road Safety Auditors and applying EU best practices worldwide.
Training auditors means improving global standards and taking actions to improve more road infrastructure projects as these are subject to much better audits and inspections as each new auditor multiplies the benefits as more roads are inspected in a better way.
The model is highly replicable and can be applied to different legal, institutional, and cultural contexts. Multilateral Development Banks, Bilateral and other donor entities, professional associations, universities, road authorities, and governments can replicate the approach by adopting common competency standards, delivering specialised training, and promoting regulatory frameworks that support RISM implementation and implementing the standards for training and professional development created by ASEVI.
By combining international cooperation, professional recognition, and capacity development, the initiative provides a practical and scalable roadmap for strengthening road safety governance of the auditor´s profession and ultimately delivering safer infrastructure for all road users.
How have you shared information about your project and its results?
The initiative and its results have been disseminated through international conferences, professional workshops, webinars, technical training programmes, and collaboration with leading road safety organisations.
The Birmingham Declaration and the International Road Safety Auditors Registry is being promoted through ASEVI, the International Road Federation (IRF), iRAP, SoRSA, FASR, and partner organisations, reaching professionals, road authorities, universities, and development institutions across multiple regions. Information has also been shared through professional networks, websites, and social media. As a result, the initiative has achieved international visibility and is increasingly recognised as a reference model for strengthening Road Safety Audit capacity and supporting the implementation of Road Infrastructure Safety Management (RISM) worldwide.
The Birmingham Declaration and the International Road Safety Auditors Registry is being promoted through ASEVI, the International Road Federation (IRF), iRAP, SoRSA, FASR, and partner organisations, reaching professionals, road authorities, universities, and development institutions across multiple regions. Information has also been shared through professional networks, websites, and social media. As a result, the initiative has achieved international visibility and is increasingly recognised as a reference model for strengthening Road Safety Audit capacity and supporting the implementation of Road Infrastructure Safety Management (RISM) worldwide.
Supporting materials
