The RTIRN partners’ meeting was convened on April 2, 2006, prior to the commencement of the 8th World Congress on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion (WCIPSP) in Durban , South Africa . The attendance of more than 60 participants-many of whom were new partners to the network was an indication of the network’s continued growth and emerging prominence in the field of Road Traffic Injury Research. RTIRN Board Chair Prof. Robyn Norton opened the meeting and Dr. Adnan Hyder, Board Vice-Chair proceeded to highlight the network’s mission and some of its main accomplishments during the past five years including the implementation of three small research studies in Kenya, Pakistan and Uganda; the provision of scholarships for participants to attend the 7th World Congress on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion in Vienna; the development of a website, list-serve and newsletter for communication to the more than 130 members; the conduct of three Partners’ Meetings and Capacity Development Workshops; and most recently the establishment of a Secretariat in Sri Lanka at the University of Peradeniya. Dr. Hyder introduced some of the Network’s upcoming activities including a Multi-Center Research Study on Non-Standard Helmet use and the convening of a Regional Workshop in Cairo , Egypt in conjunction with the Forum-10 meeting.
RTIRN Board members shared information on current RTI activities in their respective regions and discussed the role of the RTIRN in promoting RTI research and capacity development. Prof. Wilson Odero, RTIRN Board member and Dr. Olive Kobusingye, former RTIRN Board member and WHO Regional Advisor presented an overview of the RTI problem in the African region and current activities and initiatives. Prof. Robyn Norton introduced the RTIRN sponsored Multi-Centre Research Study, and its aims, reiterating the intention to build collective expertise among the RTIRN partnership. The study will focus on Non-Standard Helmet use and identify policies and legislation around their use.