The International Road Transport Union (IRU) founded in Geneva, in 1948, is the international organisation looking after the interest of the road transport industry worldwide. Via its network of national Member Associations, it represents the operators of buses, coaches, taxis and trucks, from large fleets to individual owner-operators.

In the context of its commitment to strive for sustainable development, the IRU undertakes to actively promote road safety in the road transport of goods and passengers worldwide by means of the IRU Road Safety Charter, to be signed by the IRU and by its Members (national road transport organisations in more than 65 countries) on the occasion of the IRU 2004 Congress in Yokahama, Japan.

Calling for a public-private partnership to promote road safety, the IRU Road Safety Charter calls on the public authorities to coordinate innovation, infrastructure and incentives internationally, as well as with the partners of the road transport industry and civil society.

The IRU commits itself to pursuing its work in favour of road safety through its competent bodies, including the IRU Academy, which provides internationally recognised training standards for the road transport industry, and to seeking a reinforcement of the qualitative criteria for access to the profession of road transport operator.

The IRU national Member Associations commit themselves to pursuing and intensifying their initiatives and their active contribution to road safety work by implementing IRU policies and using IRU or other relevant road safety instruments in respect of their own members. These include the promotion of road safety management systems in companies, conducting road safety campaigns and promoting commitment to a road safety charter for transport operators, based on compliance with legal requirements and voluntary measures appropriate to each region and culture.

The IRU Road Safety Charter for Transport Operators relates to planning operation, monitoring driver compliance, driver training, vehicle safety, respect for other road users and the promotion of the health of their workforce.

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