Under the motto #MakeASafetyStatement, the campaign may even amplify the core messages of the New Decade of Action for Road Safety, which goals to halve the variety of road-related victims by 2030.
“Road safety is not high enough on the political agenda in most countries. While we know the remedies to road crashes, action is lagging behind,” stated Jean Todt, UN Special Envoy for Road Safety.
“With this campaign, together with the celebrities that are joining us, and our partners JCDecaux and Saatchi & Saatchi, we are trying to revert this and mobilize the political will that is needed to increase actions and financing to save millions of lives,” he added.
Starting in New York, the campaign will run by 2025, reaching roughly 1,000 cities in additional than 80 international locations by billboards, social media and different platforms.
Thus far, 14 celebrities, together with tennis legend Novak Djokovic, Oscar-winning actress and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Michelle Yeoh, and supermodel Naomi Campbell, have pledged their help to campaign.
Each contributed their very own assertion, equivalent to “I drive slow” or “I don’t drive under the influence.”
The ‘silent pandemic’
At a press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Todt highlighted that road accidents are the “number one killer” for people aged 5 to 29, with the overwhelming majority in low- and middle-income international locations.
He famous that every yr, 1.2 million folks die on the road, and a additional 40 to 50 million are injured, many severely.
“It is a burden for the victims [and] for the family, but it is also a high cost for the countries,” Mr. Todt continued, including that the “prescriptions” for this subject embrace schooling, communication, legislation enforcement, alongside high quality of roads, and automobiles.
Fasten seatbelts
As a motor racing govt and former rally automotive co-driver, Special Envoy Todt highlighted that easy measures like fastening seatbelts in each entrance and rear seats or sporting a helmet might considerably enhance safety.
Additionally, drivers and riders should chorus from utilizing medicine, alcohol, or telephones whereas working a automobile, and may keep away from rushing.
Key road safety decision
The campaign launch follows the current adoption of a resolution by the General Assembly to enhance road safety worldwide.
Adopted final week, the decision requires elevated efforts to cut back road deaths and accidents by implementing the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.
It urges Member States to make sure that road safety turns into a “political priority,” inviting people who haven’t but carried out so to “consider adopting comprehensive legislation on key risk factors” such because the non-use of seat belts, little one restraints, and helmets, in addition to consuming and driving, and rushing.
Member States are additionally inspired to create “ministerial coordination mechanisms”, notably among the many well being, transport, schooling, infrastructure, inside, and surroundings ministries, to deal with cross-cutting points.