Governments commit to halving road traffic deaths and injuries during a new decade of action

01 September 2020

Breaking news from WHO and UN!

The UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/74/L.86 "Improving global road safety", proclaiming the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, with the ambitious target of preventing at least 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.   

WHO and the UN regional commissions, in cooperation with other partners in the UN Road Safety Collaboration, are invited to develop a new plan of action for the Second Decade. The plan of action, currently being initiated by members of the UN Road Safety Collaboration for consideration by Member States and other stakeholders, will provide a framework for achieving the Second Decade's target.

To generate political will, the UN General Assembly also decided to convene a high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly on road safety no later than the end of 2022. The resolution also endorses the Stockholm Declaration, approved during the Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety held in February 2020, and encourages Member States to favor policies to promote walking, cycling and using public transport as inherently healthy and environmentally sound modes of transport.  

"In a post-pandemic world, we must take the opportunity of these unprecedented times to reimagine mobility, to make it safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable," notes Dr Etienne Krug, WHO Director of the Department of Social Determinants of Health. "Road safety is at the heart of making this vision a reality."    

The resolution emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to road safety by continuing to improve the design of roads and vehicles; enhance laws and law enforcement on behavioural risks such as speeding, drinking and driving, and failing to use seat-belts, child restraints and motorcycle helmets; and provide timely, life-saving emergency care for the injured. In addition, it invites Member States to incentivize the development and application of technologies like crash avoidance and, with the participation of employers and workers, enforce international standards on safety and health at work, giving attention to professional drivers. 

The resolution also encourages governments to implement activities in support of achieving the 12 global road safety performance targets. All relevant stakeholders - international organizations, development banks, foundations and the private sector - are invited to scale up funding to support the measures needed to achieve these performance targets. WHO is invited to continue to monitor progress through its global status reports on road safety.

The current Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 has laid the foundation for accelerated action in the years ahead through its inclusion of road safety on the global health and development agenda, broad dissemination of scientific guidance on what works, strengthening of partnerships and networks, and mobilization of resources. Despite considerable declines in road traffic deaths observed in the European Union and countries such as Brazil and the Russian Federation, however, the number of road traffic deaths remains unacceptably high, with 1.35 million people killed every year, and as many as 50 million people injured.

The Second Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 provides an opportunity for harnessing the successes and lessons of previous years and building upon them to save lives on the world's roads and facilitate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The director of Road safety Russia Natalia Agre comments:

"The UN General Assembly has proclaimed the next Decade of Action for Road Safety by 2030 with the ambitious goal of reducing deaths by 50%. The Russian Federation has made a huge contribution to international activities and the preparation of Resolution 2020 and all previous ones over the past 15 years. It should also be noted that our country withstood the past decade with honor and with the consolidated efforts of the State Traffic Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Emergency Situations, reached a 50% percentage reduction in mortality on our roads. There is challenging and interesting work ahead to improve the culture of road users and reduce deaths"

RELATED LINKS

UN General Assembly resolution "Improving global road safety" A/74/L.86

https://www.un.org/pga/74/wp-content/uploads/sites/99/2020/08/Draft-Resolution-Road-Safety.pdf

Stockholm Declaration

https://www.roadsafetysweden.com/about-the-conference/stockholm-declaration/

12 Global Road Safety Performance Targets

https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_traffic/12GlobalRoadSafetyTargets.pdf?ua=1

Global status report on road safety 2018

https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/2018/en/

Sustainable Development Goals

https://sdgs.un.org/goals

 

Source: WHO

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