Presentation of the World Road Association

The World Road Association (PIARC) is a non-profit, non-political association established in 1909 after the first World Road Congress held in Paris in 1908. The Association has been in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations since 1970.

To date, the Association has personal and collective members, regional authorities in 144 countries and 124 member governments.

The Association's action is supported at country level by National Committees which are currently active in 48 countries. 

Goals

The World Road Association aims to develop international cooperation and promote progress in the fields of road and road transport, by:

• Being a leading international forum for analysis and discussion of the full spectrum of transport issues related to roads and related transport;
• Identifying, developing, and disseminating best practice and giving better access to international information;
• Fully considering within its activities the needs of developing countries and countries in transition; and
• Designing, producing, and promoting efficient tools for decision making on matters related to roads and related transport.

Knowledge acquisition and transfer

To achieve the above goals, the World Road Association carries out the following activities:

1. Technical committees: establishment of international technical committees or task forces, which reflect on various topics related to road and road transport.
2. Special projects: studies on current topics, outsourced, in order to respond quickly to the expectations of the Association's members
3. World Congresses: organisation every four years of a World Road Congress and an International Winter Road Congress.
4. International Seminars: organization of PIARC international seminars to develop exchanges with low- and middle-income countries, and to disseminate information on the Association's activities in these countries.
5. Publications: publication of a wide range of documents that are available online in the virtual library of the site, free of charge, and a quarterly journal "Routes/Roads".

For more information: www.piarc.org