Improving laws, governance, compliance, skills certification and operating conditions to drive safer, cleaner and more efficient commercial road transport is the aim of a new sector reform guide from the World Bank and IRU.
The World Bank and IRU, the world road transport organisation, recently published a comprehensive road transport sector reform guide for governments, public authorities and practitioners.
High accident rates, transport prices and corruption – along with security, environmental and operator profitability issues – block economic and social development, notably in emerging markets.
The causes run deep: outdated regulations, weak governance, poor regulatory and commercial compliance, lack of training and robust certification, and lack of support for operating firms that do comply with rules and regulations.
The new guide, produced in collaboration with the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP), will help governments implement a cooperative approach with the private sector to tackle these issues via actionable reforms.
World Bank Global Director for Transport Nicolas Peltier said, “This updated reform guide marks a significant step forward in helping public authorities create safe, less polluting, and inclusive road transport networks in all parts of the world.
“We look forward to working with governments, development partners and businesses in using this new guide to plan and steer reforms.”
IRU Senior Director for Strategy and Development Vincent Erard said, “Commercial goods and passenger road transport is fundamental to well-functioning, competitive and sustainable economies and communities in and between countries to drive regional economic integration.
“This new guide will help governments work closely with the private sector to build systemic reforms that create an enabling environment to drive safer, greener and more efficient supply chains and mobility networks to better serve economic and social development.”
The updated publication reflects changing technology, trade and mobility trends and user expectations, and now includes passenger transport, gender, driving license system and training environment as well as comprehensive new sections on industry decarbonisation.
The guide also benefits from concrete implementation experiences such as a recent major IRU project, supported by the World Bank, to modernise, formalise and professionalise Togo’s road transport sector.
The reform guide is available to download from the World Bank and IRU.