Protecting vulnerable road users

Although more people die as a result of road traffic injuries than from HIV/ AIDS or other diseases in the world, road safety still hasn’t received the attention as it deserves. More than half of all road traffic deaths are among vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

In addition to the injuries and disabilities resulting from road traffic crashes, the safety of roads also impacts other public health issues a. Road safety systems that do not include safe spaces for walking, cycling or integration with mass transit can result in more reliance on motor vehicle transportation. In these cases people are less likely to walk, cycle, or use public transportation which will lead to other health issues, as refer to ischaemic heart disease and diabetes etc.

To help improve road safety in China, we are:

• Assisting in capacity-building, and providing guidance and technical support to government counterparts to improve road safety;

• Coordinating efforts at the country level with all relevant sectors to meet the international road safety targets set by the Decade of Action and the Sustainable Development Goals;

• Accelerating activities such as the collection of appropriate data for road traffic injury prevention, and conducting educational campaigns with government counterparts.