100-year commitment for road safety – and counting
DEKRA contributes to 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Morocco
- Panel discussion on private sector role highlights DEKRA’s wide-ranging work
- Homologation, PTI, accident research, training, cybersecurity, and safe AI
- Highly valued partner for both policymakers and local administrations
For 100 years, DEKRA has been committed to improving road safety. Starting in 1925 with voluntary vehicle inspections for the association’s members from German industry and commerce, the scope has widened today – with DEKRA experts involved in many different fields that are relevant for safety on our roads. As such, DEKRA is also contributing to the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety which is currently taking place in Marrakech, Morocco.
In a panel discussion on the role of the private sector in road safety, Oliver Deiters, Head of the DEKRA Representation to the European Union, took the stage together with of safety system provider Autoliv as well as voluntary non-profit car assessment program Euro NCAP, following the International Automobile Federation FIA and the International Road Assessment Program iRAP.
“It is important that DEKRA as an independent expert organization positions itself as a leading contributor in terms of road safety in the global arena – after all, this is why we exist in the first place”, Deiters explains. “Our expertise and our road safety work cover a wide range of stages along a vehicle’s life cycle, for example, as well as and beyond that topic.”
DEKRA’s wide-ranging efforts for road safety
Long before a vehicle first comes to market, developers need to test various systems and functionalities. Homologation and type approval tests are a prerequisite for a vehicle type to be introduced. This includes simulations and their alignment with proving-ground tests as well as real-life driving tests and crash tests, all of which DEKRA’s facilities can provide. The DEKRA Technology Center in Klettwitz in the German state of Brandenburg is the major site for most of these services, which are designed for vehicle types that are newly introduced onto the roads to prove that they are safe. Once vehicles are being produced and sold, conformity-of-production tests make sure that the individual vehicles show the same safety performance as the vehicle type did in homologation.
Also, many countries around the world have regulations in place for a mandatory periodical technical inspection (PTI). DEKRA is by far the global number one in this field, performing way over 30 million inspections annually in 24 countries. “PTI makes sure that vehicles remain safe throughout their lifecycle”, says DEKRA expert Deiters. “And today, of course, this does not only mean mechanical safety. Given the increasing number of electronic safety systems built into modern vehicles, checking that they are functioning correctly, is an important aspect of today’s and tomorrow’s PTI.” Defined and regulated access to relevant data from the vehicle is especially important for this.
Moreover, with modern vehicles becoming more and more software-defined, cybersecurity and the safe implementation of artificial intelligence applications will be playing an ever-increasing role. “DEKRA has positioned itself to be a full-service provider for all aspects of safety and security in the automotive sector”, says Oliver Deiters. “Only last week, we have announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind integrated global digital trust service offering.”
For decades, with its accident analysis experts and accident researchers, DEKRA has also been aiming to draw conclusions from real road crashes and to recommend steps towards the Vision Zero, i.e., a safe system with no fatalities and ultimately no severe injuries. These recommendations have been presented in the form of the annual DEKRA Road Safety Report since 2008.
With respect to the human factor, DEKRA contributes to road safety by performing driving license tests in parts of Germany as well as New Zealand. Also, the organization provides training services for professional drivers, using state-of-the-art simulator technology as well as modern trucks, including battery-electric vehicles.
Marrakech declaration for ambitious approach
At the 4th Global Ministerial Conference in Marrakech, DEKRA representatives appreciated the opportunity to network with ministers, NGOs, and other key transport stakeholders, and to foster strong relationships for further collaboration on road safety. “The declaration coming out of Marrakech will help shape an ambitious approach, as it clearly states that the efforts so far have been commendable, but not sufficient to reach the targets set in terms of saving lives on our roads. DEKRA is remaining committed to playing our part in road safety in all aspects of the field: Wherever we can contribute, we will”, affirms Oliver Deiters.