IRU celebrates global convention for transport of dangerous goods

Working in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, IRU today celebrates 60 years of the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR).

The milestone represents the longstanding success of the tool to ensure safer transport of dangerous goods, and a catalyst for future work on raising global awareness and expanding its geographic scope.

IRU’s role in helping Contracting Parties to conceive, draft and develop ADR, alongside work to raise awareness and embed it into commercial road transport services, is recognised as a significant achievement of the successful public-private partnership with UNECE.

UNECE Executive Secretary, Olga Algayerova, said,

“ADR has made a direct contribution over 60 years to improving road safety for the transport of dangerous goods, reducing risks and saving lives. As a global Agreement, ADR is open to all United Nations Member States. Growing international interest in ADR means that more and more countries will be able to benefit from enhanced safety on the road.”

ADR is a highly effective tool to prevent serious accidents. IRU has played an active role over many years in ensuring that its safety provisions are more global, cost-effective and achievable, with revisions keeping pace with industry innovations and practices. As part of IRU’s wider effort to promote road safety, IRU facilitates training and capacity building as key to the prevention of accidents.

Umberto de Pretto, IRU Secretary General, said,

“It is gratifying to look back at 60 years of IRU’s input into the drafting and development of the Agreement, with its significant contribution to improving road safety. Looking ahead, IRU will continue to support revisions as the industry develops, and we reinforce the message today that global conventions, together with training, are the most effective means to secure, professionalise and harmonise road transport services around the world.”

The announcement comes at the United Nations Working Party meeting on the transport of dangerous goods this week, and follows recent amendments, offering clarity on load limits carried by drivers per transport unit, to better facilitate the delivery of dangerous goods under an exemptions scheme.