In Brazil, a woman is quickly crossing a busy road.
The United Nations launched a new global road safety campaign on Monday to improve traffic safety and create inclusive, safe and sustainable streets.
The campaign's slogan is #MakeSafeStatement# (#MakeASafetyStatement) and aims to promote the core message of the New Decade of Action for Road Safety, which aims to halve the number of road-related victims by 2030.
UN Special Envoy for Road Safety Jean-Toth said: "In most countries, road safety is not high enough on the political agenda. While we know the remedies for road traffic accidents, action lags behind. ”
"With this campaign, together with the celebrities who have joined us and our partners JCDecaux and Thatch, we are trying to reverse this situation and mobilize the necessary political will to increase action and funding to save millions of lives," said Jean-Toth. ”
Launching in New York, the campaign will run until 2025, reaching around 1,000 cities in more than 80 countries through billboards, social media, and other platforms.
To date, 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.
Everyone made their own statements such as "I don't speed" or "I don't drink and drive."
A silent epidemic
At a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Toth stressed that traffic accidents are the "number one killer" of people aged 5 to 29, with the vast majority of them occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
He noted that 1.2 million people die in traffic accidents each year, and another 40 million to 50 million people are injured, many of them seriously.
Toth went on to say that families are victims of road traffic accidents and at the same time place a heavy burden on society. The "remedy" to address this issue includes education, communication, law enforcement, road quality and vehicles.
Buckle up
As a race car manager and former rally car driver, Toth's envoy stressed that simple measures such as fastening seat belts or wearing helmets on the front and rear seats can go a long way in improving safety.
In addition, drivers and passengers must avoid drugs, alcohol or mobile phones while driving vehicles and should avoid speeding, he said.
Important road safety resolutions
The General Assembly recently adopted a resolution aimed at improving global road safety.
The resolution, adopted last week, calls for intensified efforts to reduce road casualties through the implementation of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.
The resolution urges Member States to ensure that road safety becomes a "political priority" and invites States that have not yet done so to "consider adopting comprehensive legislation on key risk factors", including the non-use of seat belts, child restraints and helmets, as well as drunk driving and speeding.
The resolution also encourages Member States to establish "ministerial coordination mechanisms", particularly between ministries of health, transport, education, infrastructure, interior and environment, to address cross-cutting issues.
