WHO Urges Global Action for Safer Road Policies and Healthy Cities

Strategic Insights -

The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the need for global action to make walking and cycling safer for everyone, as part of the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week. The theme emphasizes the importance of multimodal transport systems, safe road design, and lower speed limits to reduce the staggering number of road-traffic crashes that claim lives and leave millions with non-fatal injuries. The WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Saima Wazed, pointed out that road-traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among young people aged 5-29 years and account for 28% of global road deaths in the region.

Key Takeaways:

  • The WHO has urged all member states, civil society, and communities to push for people-centred mobility policies, safer road design, safe vehicles, and lower speed limits.
  • Road-traffic crashes take a devastating toll on communities globally, claiming nearly 1.2 million lives and leaving up to 50 million with non-fatal injuries each year.
  • In the WHO South-East Asia Region, road crashes accounted for 3.3 lakh deaths in 2021, representing 28% of the global total.
  • Vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and operators of two- and three-wheelers, made up 66% of fatalities in the region.
  • Ensuring the safety of pedestrians and cyclists is crucial, not only for saving lives but also for promoting physical activity and mental well-being.
  • The WHO partnership for healthy cities has been working extensively with megacities to address road safety and promote safe transportation.

Statistics:

  • Globally, road-traffic crashes claim nearly 1.2 million lives and leave up to 50 million with non-fatal injuries each year.
  • In the WHO South-East Asia Region, road crashes accounted for 3.3 lakh (330,000) deaths in 2021, representing 28% of the global total.
  • Vulnerable road users made up 66% of fatalities in the region.
  • Pedestrians and cyclists already account for more than one in four road-traffic deaths worldwide.
  • Walking and cycling support physical activity, a key modifiable risk factor for non-communicable diseases, such as heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, and cancers.

Sources:

  • Saima Wazed, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, as quoted in a joint press release by the WHO and HT Digital Content Services.
  • "8th UN Global Road Safety Week" (WHO webpage).
  • "Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2020-2030" (WHO report).
  • Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Pioneer.