UN Global Road Safety Week

U.N. Global Road Safety Week is underway, with the theme of "Streets for Life" aiming to raise awareness of road safety issues and promote initiatives to reduce the number of road collisions and fatalities around the world. 

The week-long event highlights the importance of road safety education, stronger laws and enforcement mechanisms, and data collection and monitoring. Governments, organizations, and individuals are encouraged to take action to make their streets safer and more sustainable, including improving infrastructure, reducing speed limits, increasing public transport options, and promoting active travel such as walking and cycling.

"As a global community, it is all of our responsibility to work toward achieving safety on our roads,” said Jon Baldwin, Executive Vice President of Verra Mobility’s Government Solutions business.

DID YOU KNOW?

According to the World Health Organization:

• Road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with around 1.3 million people killed and as many as 50 million people injured each year.
• Crash injuries are estimated to be the eighth leading cause of death globally for all age groups and the leading cause of death for children and young people 5–29 years of age. 
• Globally, 1 of every 4 deaths occurs among pedestrians and cyclists.

EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT

One of the key messages of Global Road Safety Week is the importance of road safety education. This includes educating drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and children about the dangers of the road and how to stay safe. This can be achieved through campaigns, awareness-raising events, and school education programs. 

Another important aspect of road safety is the need for stronger laws and enforcement mechanisms. This includes measures such as seatbelt and helmet laws, stricter drink-driving laws, and tougher penalties for dangerous driving. Governments and law enforcement agencies have a crucial role to play in enforcing these laws and ensuring that they are effective in reducing road collisions. 

Global Road Safety Week also highlights the importance of data collection and monitoring. Accurate data on road accidents and fatalities is essential for identifying trends and areas where the action is needed. This information can be used to develop targeted interventions and to measure the effectiveness of road safety initiatives.

“Road Safety Week is a crucial initiative that brings awareness and demands action to achieve the ultimate goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on our roads," Jon said. "We're proud to partner with cities and communities around the world to further their goals of creating a culture of responsible, safe driving and collectively shifting attitudes toward road safety."