To mark the 7th UN Global Road Safety Week, which will be celebrated from 15-21 May 2023, WHO is urging countries and partners in the South-East Asia Region and across the world to Rethink Mobility and reimagine mobility for sustainable transport. During this week, we should remind ourselves, the gravity of issues that road traffic injury causes.
Globally, road traffic crashes cause nearly 1.35 million deaths every year, with as many as 50 million people injured annually. Shockingly, for people aged 5-29 years, there is no greater threat to their lives. 1 in every 4 road traffic deaths occur among pedestrians and cyclists.
In the South-East Asia Region, road traffic injuries kill approximately 316,000 people each year, making about 30% of global road traffic deaths, with two wheelers contributing more than 44% of all road traffic deaths in the region. Over half of road traffic mortality is accounted for by Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs). These VRUs include motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. It is crucial that we prioritize VRUs, especially motorcyclists, in our road safety programs.
The good news is that road traffic crashes are both predictable and preventable. In September 2020, UN General Assembly Resolution 74/299 endorsed the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030 with the explicit target to reduce road deaths and injuries by at least 50% during that period. The Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 calls upon governments and stakeholders to prioritize and implement an integrated Safe System approach to achieve the target of a 50% reduction in the number of road traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
The 5th global status report on road safety should provide status and adequate evidence for countries to act. We must all converge ourselves in achieving global target and free many vulnerable road users from unnecessary and avoidable road traffic injuries and death.
As we celebrate the 7th UN Global Road Safety Week from 15-21 May 2023, let us remember that there is a desperate need for governments and their partners to rethink mobility. We must put safety at the core of our efforts to reimagine how we move in the world. Road safety is a human right, and this right must not be compromised as we reimagine how we move in the world.
I would like to propose three areas of actions for governments to implement to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries.
First, governments should enact/update laws that meet best international practice criteria on the behavioral risk factors and adopt effective enforcement strategies.
Second, simple behavioral change such as wearing quality helmet appropriately for both riders and pillion, wearing seat belt, use of child restraints and prevent drink driving saves lives. Ministry of Health, traffic police departments, transport authorities and other agencies should all come together to ensure that behavioral risk factors are reduced.
Third, governments must invest in safer road infrastructure and design for all road users with special attention to vulnerable users and develop policies that promote shifting to safer modes like walking and cycling as alternatives to car travel and invest in safe and affordable public transport and encourage its use.
Let us all work together towards achieving the global target of 50% reduction in the number of road traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030.