IREF 2008 Annual Student Essay Competition
The International Road Educational Foundation has officially announced the topics of the 2008 IREF Annual Essay Competition. IREF will officially begin accepting essays beginning Sept. 1, 2007 and the competition will close May 31, 2008.
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The theme for this year’s competition is Road Safety. As the world begins to pay closer attention to the growing epidemic of death and injury on the world’s roads every year, IRF is leading the charge to end needless deaths. Road safety, however, is a complex issue that demands a comprehensive approach to solving the multitude of problems that confront the road industry around the world. With this in mind, the IREF has selected the following topics for the 2008 IRF Educational Foundation Essay Competition:
Approximately twenty-five percent of fatal crashes with fixed objects occur as a result of collisions with shrubbery and trees. What design policies and maintenance practices should be implemented to reduce this fatal trend?
Motorcycle use continues to grow around the world and motorcycle accidents and fatalities continue to rise at an alarming number. How can road authorities modify their road design, education and enforcement procedures to reduce these fatalities?
Education and enforcement have been used as deterrents to impaired (drunken and drugged) driving; what engineering measures could be implemented to eliminate or to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries caused by crashes involving impaired drivers?
Safety barriers are needed around the world for basically the same applications. How could a global performance standard be implemented for safety barriers?
Congestion in municipal areas is worse than ever causing safety, productivity, and environmental concerns. What innovative concepts should be considered to alleviate congestion in municipalities?
Four winning essays will be chosen by August 31, 2008. The entries will be judged based on content, clarity, style and creativity. First prize will be $3,000 for the writer of the winning essay and $1,000 to the sponsoring professor. Three additional finalist prizes will be awarded $1,000 each. Winners will be notified by September 15, 2008.
Official Rules
- Essay is limited to one of the proposed topics and must be typewritten in English. Essay should not be bound and must be submitted in hard copy as well as electronically.
- Essay must be a maximum of 2000 words.
- References to actual accidents or other incidents should include documentation verifying the accident.
- Contest is only open to full-time students enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate transportation curriculum at IRF member universities or Research Institutes.
- Employees of the International Road Federation and their families are not eligible to enter the contest.
- Essay must be submitted no later than May 31, 2008.
- The International Road Federation is not responsible for lost, late or misdirected submittals.
- Essay must be submitted by the sponsoring professor.
- All entries must include the name, address, e-mail address and telephone numbers of the student and the sponsoring professor
- All entries will become the property of the International Road Federation.
- Acceptance of any award constitutes consent to use the winner’s name, photo and likeness for editorial, advertising and publicity purposes.
- This contest is subject to all applicable laws and regulations and is void where prohibited.
- All decisions made by the International Road Federation are final.
Contestant, by entering the contest, agrees to be bound by the above rules.
All entries must be submitted by May 31, 2008.
Essays can either be submitted using the online form or they can be mailed to:
IRF ESSAY COMPETITION
Madison Place
500 Montgomery Street
Fifth Floor
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
USA
Tel: +1 703 535 1001
Fax: +1 703 535 1007
E-mail: info@irfnews.org