The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) yesterday (Monday June 23rd) kicked off its second annual Global Road Safety Week, urging transportation leaders and tolling operators worldwide to take action to reduce traffic deaths and injuries.
Centered on the theme Be Safe Together: Be the Highway Hero, the campaign unites global voices and innovations to tackle one of the world’s most pressing public health issues.
As part of the campaign, IBTTA is also unveiling BeSafeTogether.org, a new digital platform that serves as a global hub for safety engagement – highlighting best practices from across continents, celebrating local and national achievements, and sharing stories from individuals working to make every road safer.
“As toll operators around the world come together this week, we’re reinforcing our shared commitment to safety,” said James Hofmann, IBTTA president and executive director/CEO of the North Texas Tollway Authority. “With tolling operations in nearly 100 countries, our industry is a powerful force—driving the technologies, policies, and actions that make every safe journey possible.”
Each day of the campaign will spotlight a critical road safety issue, including interviews with Be Safe Together campaign allies like the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), EndDD.org and others:
- Monday, June 23: Global leadership kickoff webinar
- Tuesday, June 24: Distracted driving
- Wednesday, June 25: Speeding, aggressive and wrong way driving
- Thursday, June 26: Impaired driving
- Friday, June 27: Personal responsibility
You can view virtual events from across the week in the IBTTA videos playlisted on the TTi YouTube channel
Participants are encouraged to share their activities, innovations and safety stories using the hashtags #BeSafeTogether and #BeTheHighwayHero.
To support these efforts, IBTTA is also advocating for stronger U.S. federal policies that empower state and local operators to invest in innovation, infrastructure and resilience.
In April, IBTTA submitted its federal surface transportation reauthorization priorities to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, emphasizing the need for: greater flexibility for tolling and user-based funding to support local investments in safety and modernization; expanded federal support for resiliency programs to help infrastructure withstand extreme weather, flooding and other emergencies; and accelerated deployment of connected vehicle technologies and V2X systems that prevent crashes and protect all road users.
“IBTTA and our members are doing our part to advance safety through smart policy, innovation and collaboration,” said Mark Muriello, IBTTA vice president of government affairs and policy. “We look forward to working with the administration and Congress to support solutions that empower local action, strengthen resilience and help save lives on our roads.”
“Be Safe Together reflects the power of collective action—how small efforts across agencies, countries, and individuals add up to something truly lifesaving,” said Bill Halkias, CEO of New Attica Tollway Concession Co. “That was the vision I set during my 2024 IBTTA presidency, and I’m proud to see our industry continue to unite behind it.”
“IBTTA plays a vital role in bringing transportation leaders together to share effective road safety strategies—from technology and policy to public engagement,” said Ferzan Ahmed, executive director of the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission and chair of Global Road Safety Week. “This week is about learning from each other and turning insight into action to save lives.”
Road crashes kill over 1.19 million people each year, according to the World Health Organization, and are the leading cause of death for those ages 5 to 29.
