Intersec 2025 to tackle road safety as a key social sustainability challenge

Intersec 2025, taking place from 14-16 January 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), will address road safety as a critical challenge, bringing together experts to discuss strategies for managing road-related risks and advancing the goals of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030.

Developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations, the Global Plan aims to halve road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. With 92% of global road fatalities occurring in low- and middle-income countries, despite these regions holding only 60% of the world’s vehicles, the issue poses a significant social and economic challenge.

Dubai has made notable progress in road safety, reducing traffic fatalities by 93% between 2007 and 2023, reaching a record low of 1.6 deaths per 100,000 people last year. This achievement has been attributed to improved traffic enforcement and enhanced infrastructure. Local initiatives like the Roads & Transport Authority’s "Golden Rules for Generational Safety" campaign, which educates school children on traffic rules, have also played a role.

Advancing safety

The Intersec 2025 Safety & Health Conference will offer safety professionals a platform to explore advancements in workplace and road safety. Curated by the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH), the second day of the conference (15 January) will focus on strategies for improving workplace safety across industries.

Running parallel to the conference, Intersec 2025 will feature a dedicated Safety & Health exhibition zone with 180 exhibitors from 30 countries, including prominent UAE-based companies such as MSA Safety, Woodland, and Palletco. The event will also showcase solutions across other sectors, including Commercial & Perimeter Security, Fire & Rescue, Cyber Security, and Homeland Security & Policing.

The 26th edition of Intersec will bring together 1,200 exhibitors from over 60 countries and is expected to attract more than 42,000 trade visitors. With the theme "Mapping the future in safety, security & fire protection," the event aims to provide actionable insights and solutions to advance safety and security on a global scale.

Dr Karen McDonnell, head of global relations at The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said, “This data highlights a critical social sustainability issue. By adopting a ‘safe systems’ approach that incorporates strong policies, innovative technology, and public-private partnerships, organisations in the UAE and across the region can take ownership of road safety issues, and we can make a measurable impact on reducing road-related fatalities and injuries.”

Eugene Mayne, founder and CEO of UAE-based Tristar Group, shared how his company has embraced road safety in its operations, “Tristar has achieved a remarkable record of over 500 million kilometres driven without a single fatality across its fleet. Our success can be attributed to our ‘visible and felt leadership’ and the use of cutting-edge technology, such as our patented fatigue detection system, which alerts drivers and control room operators to potential risks in real-time.”

Andy Shenstone, CEO, NEBOSH, commented, “NEBOSH is delighted to curate content for Intersec for the third consecutive year. More than eight thousand people from the UAE took a NEBOSH qualification in the past 12 months, so this event is a great opportunity for us to give back to the professional community here. We have assembled some of health and safety's leading voices to share their expertise with Intersec delegates, helping them to improve practice in their own organisations."