Strengthening safe mobility
oad Crash is both predictable and preventable. UN General Assembly Resolution 74/299 endorsed the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030 and targets to reduce road deaths and injuries by at least 50% during that period[1]. The global plan 2021-2030 was developed taking a new path using integrated Safe System approach. Safe system recognizes transportation as complex systems of human, environment and road and accommodates human error, incorporates vehicles and road design approaches and ultimately aims for zero deaths.
Five areas of recommendations for safe system are a) multimodel transport and land use planning b) safe road infrastructure 3) Vehicle safety 4) safe road use 5) post-crash response[2].
The Global status report on road safety, 2023 found 5% drop in estimated road traffic deaths from 1.25 Million in 2010 to 1.19 Million deaths in 2021[3]. The WHO South-East Asia Region also reported 2% drop in the road traffic deaths despite 28% of the global death is from the region. Cyclist accounts for 12% of all road traffic deaths. South-East Asia Region ( 330,222 deaths) contributes to 28% of global road traffic deaths. South East Asia Region has 273% increase in the number of powered two and three wheelers.
WHO has developed a technical package, Save LIVES[4]. Save LIVES: a road safety technical package is an evidence-based inventory of priority interventions with a focus on Speed management, Leadership, Infrastructure design and improvement, Vehicle safety standards, Enforcement of traffic laws and post-crash Survival.- The South-East Asia Region has one of the highest road crashes with about 30% of global road traffic deaths[1] and two wheelers contribute more than 44% of all road traffic deaths in the region.
- The regional commitment was further boosted with the signing of the PHUKET ( Prioritization, High level commitment , Unlimited effort , Knowledge management, Enforcement, Targets) Framework for Action to protect Vulnerable road users, with focus on vulnerable road users[2].
[2] RoadSafe: Global Plan for the Decade of Action 2021-2030
[4] https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/save-lives-a-road-safety-technical-package
