Buckle up, make a statement on safety: UN launches global campaign to boost road safety
Under the motto #MakeASafetyStatementThe campaign will also amplify the core messages of the new Decade of Action for Road Safety, which aims to halve the number of road crash victims by 2030.
“Road safety is not high on the political agenda in most countries.. While we know the remedies for road accidents, action is still lagging,” said Jean Todt, UN. Special Envoy for Road Safety.
“With this campaign, together with the celebrities joining us and our partners JCDecaux and Saatchi & Saatchi, we are trying to turn this around and mobilise the political will needed to Scaling up action and funding to save millions of lives“, he added.
Starting in New York, the campaign will run through 2025, reaching about 1,000 cities in more than 80 countries through billboards, social media and other platforms.
So 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 for the campaign.
Each person makes their own statements, such as “I drive slowly” or “I do not drive drunk.”
‘Silent pandemic’
At a press conference at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Mr. Todt stressed that traffic accidents are the “number one killer” of people aged 5 to 29, mostly in low- and middle-income countries.
He noted that each year, 1.2 million people die on the roads and 40 to 50 million are injured, many seriously.
“It is a burden for the victims. [and] for families, but also a high price for nationsMr Todt continued, adding that “solutions” to the problem include education, communication, law enforcement, along with the quality of roads and vehicles.
Seatbelt
As a racing executive and former rally driver, Special Envoy Todt stressed that simple measures such as wearing seat belts in both front and rear seats or wearing helmets can significantly improve safety.
In addition, drivers and motorcyclists must abstain from using drugs, alcohol or cell phones while driving and must not speed or overtake recklessly.
Important traffic safety resolution
The campaign launch comes after the recent adoption of a Resolution of the General Assembly to improve road safety worldwide.
Passed last week, the resolution calls for increased efforts to reduce road deaths and injuries by implementing Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.
The report calls on member states to ensure that road safety becomes a “political priority”, and urges those that have not done so to “consider adopting comprehensive legislation on key risk factors” such as not wearing seat belts, child restraints and helmets, as well as drink-driving and speeding.
Member states are also encouraged to create “ministerial coordination mechanisms”, particularly between ministries of health, transport, education, infrastructure, home affairs and environment, to address cross-sectoral issues.
