New CEO in Latin America and the Caribbean

iRAP has appointed Julio Urzúa to the newly created position of CEO iRAP, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Julio will be responsible for the rapidly growing road assessment programme in the region, where more than 10,000km of roads have already been surveyed. Julio will work closely with government and non-government organisations to promote road safety investment, training, research, communications and evaluation. Julio is currently working closely with the Inter-American Development Bank on the creation of an iRAP project in Paraguay.

Prior to joining iRAP, Julio held senior positions with the Latin American and Caribbean Transitional Committee for Road Safety which coordinates and strengthens road safety activity, and the Chilean National Commission for Road Safety (CONASET) which is responsible for inter-ministerial coordination and development of road safety policy.

During Julio's tenure at CONASET, compulsory seat belt and helmet laws were passed, use of hand-held mobile phones while driving was banned and increased penalties for drink driving were introduced. Between 2004 and 2006 road crash deaths declined in Chile by 7%, representing a saving of 120 lives.

Julio can be contacted at julio.urzua@irap.net.

August 2009.