UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for addressing road safety as part of the post-2015 development agenda in his message for the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, on 17 November 2013.
17 November 2013: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for addressing road safety as part of the post-2015 development agenda in his message for the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, on 17 November 2013.
Ban said, “As the international community works to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, I call for more concerted action on road safety as part of the future development agenda. This will be a vital component of efforts to improve health and save lives in the years ahead.”
Participants in global consultations on the post-2015 agenda have drawn attention to road traffic injury as a leading cause of death among youth and urged attention to safe and sustainable transport. ‘Better transport and roads’ are included as a priority in the MY World Survey, with respondents from low Human Development Indicator (HDI) countries ranking it their eighth priority.
The ‘Safe Roads for All’ report recommends including a global fatality reduction target of 50% by 2030 in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UN agencies, including the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), have supported addressing road safety.
Ban also applauded the Decade of Action for Road Safety, 2011-2020, which has a target of saving 5 million lives. [UN Press Release] [Statement of UNSG] [MY World Website] [Publication: Safe Roads for All] [IISD RS Sources]