people die every year in a road traffic crash
Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among young people aged 15-29
Why Road Safety?
Road Safety is key to building a healthy, inclusive, sustainable, and safe environment for everyone so we must promote road safety in all areas of development to bring more action, more investment, and clear commitments to reduce road crash deaths and injuries.
Contributes to Sustainable Development
In September 2015, the world set its global development agenda for the next 15 years. These are called the Global Goals, which include for the first time, two road safety targets:
- Target 3.6 – To halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2030
- Target 11.2 - By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons
In 2020, global ministers came together during the 3rd Ministerial Conference on Road Safety to review the road safety targets in the Global Goals. During this conference, heads of state reaffirmed their commitment to achieving 50by30. With the new Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021 - 2030, we have another decade to halve the number of road-related deaths and injuries around the world. YOURS is calling for real action to reach this very ambitious target.
Addresses Public Health Issues
- Approximately 1.19 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes.
- Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years.
- 92%t of the world's fatalities on the roads occur in low- and middle-income countries, even though these countries have around 60% of the world's vehicles.
- More than half of all road traffic deaths are among vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
- Between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal injuries, with many incurring a disability.
Reduces Inequalities
- More than 90% of road traffic deaths occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). In addition to all the other problems they face, people living in poor economic settings are at higher risk of road traffic injuries for many reasons, including worse roads, less awareness and education, and less access to quality health services.
- Road traffic injuries have a higher impact on the poor even in HICs.
- Road traffic crashes not only have a high cost in terms of lives but also financially. The global monetary cost of road traffic injuries is more than US$ 500 billion each year or 1-3% of each country's Gross National Product (GNP). This reflects costs of medical treatment, rehabilitation, loss of productivity (fewer days at work), legal costs, and much more.
Calling for a paradigm shift
Stop blaming and start protecting.
Young people are unfairly blamed for road crashes even when they are forced to use unsafe, unsustainable, and inconvenient road infrastructure. Rather than blaming them, we should provide safe and easy-to-use mobility systems that prioritise their well-being
Stop preaching; start reaching.
Understanding the specific needs and problems of young people is crucial to find better solutions for road safety and beyond. We urge policy-makers to engage with young leaders at all stages and levels of policy-making. This call for meaningful youth engagement is widely recognised and clearly described in the UN Youth Strategy 2030.
We strongly believe in the meaningful involvement of young people in all aspects of our work, as it brings multiple benefits to their own and their communities’ development. From an operational perspective, youth participation contributes to better decisions and policies, allowing decision-makers to tap into the unique perspectives of young people’s knowledge and experiences. This improves understanding of their specific needs and problems, leading to better solutions.