The United Nations on Monday launched a new global road safety
campaign to improve traffic safety and create inclusive, safe and
sustainable streets.
Under the motto #MakeASafetyStatement, the
campaign will also amplify the core messages of the New Decade of
Action for Road Safety, which aims to halve the number of
road-related victims by 2030.
“Road safety is not high enough on the political agenda
in most countries. While we know the remedies to road
crashes, action is lagging behind,” said Jean Todt,
UN Special Envoy for Road
Safety.
“With this campaign, together with the celebrities that are
joining us, and our partners JCDecaux and Saatchi & Saatchi,
we are trying to revert this and mobilize the political will that
is needed to increase actions and financing to save
millions of lives,” he added.
Starting in New York, the campaign will run through 2025,
reaching approximately 1,000 cities in more than 80 countries
through billboards, social media and other platforms.
Thus far, 14 celebrities, including tennis legend Novak Djokovic,
Oscar-winning actress and UNDP Goodwill
Ambassador Michelle Yeoh, and supermodel Naomi Campbell, have
pledged their support to campaign.
Each contributed their own statement, such as “I drive slow” or
“I don't drive under the influence.”
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The ‘silent pandemic'
At a press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Todt
highlighted that road accidents are the “number one killer” for
individuals aged 5 to 29, with the vast majority in low- and
middle-income countries.
He noted that each year, 1.2 million people die on the road, and
a further 40 to 50 million are injured, many seriously.
“It is a burden for the victims [and] for the family, but
it is also a high cost for the countries,” Mr. Todt
continued, adding that the “prescriptions” for this issue include
education, communication, law enforcement, alongside quality of
roads, and vehicles.
Fasten seatbelts
As a motor racing executive and former rally car co-driver,
Special Envoy Todt highlighted that simple measures like
fastening seatbelts in both front and rear seats or wearing a
helmet could significantly improve safety.
Additionally, drivers and riders must refrain from using drugs,
alcohol, or phones while operating a vehicle, and should avoid
speeding.
Key road safety resolution
The campaign launch follows the recent adoption of
a resolution by the
General Assembly to improve road safety worldwide.
Adopted last week, the resolution calls for increased efforts to
reduce road deaths and injuries by implementing the Global Plan for the Decade of
Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.
It urges Member States to ensure that road safety becomes a
“political priority,” inviting those that have not yet done so to
“consider adopting comprehensive legislation on key risk factors”
such as the non-use of seat belts, child restraints, and helmets,
as well as drinking and driving, and speeding.
Member States are also encouraged to create “ministerial
coordination mechanisms”, notably among the health, transport,
education, infrastructure, interior, and environment ministries,
to address cross-cutting issues.
