Road accidents a major source of medical evacuations of business travellers in region

UAE-based executives are travelling increasingly widely in the Middle East and Africa, International SOS research has found. Many of the countries they visit rank poorly for road safety, with some recording amongst the highest rates of road accidents in the world.

In an effort to help organisations manage this risk for their travelling workforces, International SOS and its joint venture partner Control Risks are launching Travel Risk: Road Safety, a new e-learning module for business travellers. The module has been developed with the Global Road Safety Partnership.

Three of the top ten most dangerous countries for driving are in the Middle East, according to World Health Organisation figures. They are Iran, Iraq and Oman. Four African countries also feature – Nigeria, South Africa, Guinea-Bissau and Chad.

Some 18% of all executives in the UAE now work across the GCC, International SOS research has found. For 11% their work spans the Middle East and North Africa and 3% cover sub-Saharan Africa. Amongst its own clients, International SOS has seen business travel from the UAE increase by 33% over the past three years, compared to just over 16% from New York, some 14% from Singapore and just over 6% from London.

Julian Moro, Regional Security Director for International SOS and Control Risks, advises clients on how to manage their travel security in the Middle East and North, East & Southern Africa. He is based in International SOS’ Dubai office.

“Road travel is such a common everyday activity, there is a tendency to underestimate the risks involved and in our region those risks can be considerable,” said Mr Moro. “Our goal with this new programme is to make business travellers more aware, and stop them falling victim to tragic accidents abroad. For the organisations sending them, increasing understanding of road safety is just one way they should be living up to their duty of care to their travelling employees.”

The Global Road Safety Partnership is a non-profit organisation that brings together the leading multi- and bi-lateral development agencies, governments, businesses and civil society organisations involved in road safety. It is hosted by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.