The Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 has been launched in Geneva, with the ambitious target of preventing at least 50 percent of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.

Globally, over 3,500 people die every day on the roads, which amounts to nearly 1.3 million preventable deaths and an estimated 50 million injuries each year – making it the leading killer of children and young people worldwide. If nothing changes, road crashes are set to cause a further estimated 13 million deaths and 500 million injuries during the next decade, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

The Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 has been developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN regional commissions, in cooperation with other partners in the UN Road Safety Collaboration.

“The loss of lives and livelihoods, the disabilities caused, the grief and pain, and the financial costs caused by road traffic crashes add up to an intolerable toll on families, communities, societies and health systems,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, “So much of this suffering is preventable, by making roads and vehicles safer, and by promoting safe walking, cycling and greater use of public transport. The Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety lays out the practical, evidence-based steps all countries and communities can take to save lives.”

This Global Plan describes the actions needed to achieve the target. This includes accelerated action to make walking, cycling and using public transport safe, as they are also healthier and greener modes of transport; to ensure safe roads, vehicles and behaviours; and to guarantee timely and effective emergency care.  It is aimed to inspire countries, including governments and partners to act boldly and decisively, using the tools and knowledge gained from the last Decade of Action to change course.

See more about the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030