Secretary-General, at Addis Ababa Event, Urges Governments to Develop Road Safety Policies, Measurable Targets for Ending High Facility Accident Rate in Africa

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message to the International Road Federation Conference “Road Safety Challenge for Africa”, held today in Addis Ababa:

The International Road Federation conference “Road Safety Challenge for Africa”, supported by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the World Bank and the African Union, is a timely and welcome event.  It demonstrates, once again, the international community’s strong commitment to assist African countries to reduce the burden of having the world’s most fatal roads.

Young people are the most vulnerable road users.  Pedestrians, cyclists and users of motorized two- and three-wheeled vehicles are at greatest risk of death and injury on African roads.  Pedestrians comprise 38 per cent of road fatalities.  Most countries still lack policies for protecting vulnerable road users and promoting investment in public transport and safer roads.

Many countries are yet to enact laws addressing speed control, drink-driving, helmet use, seat-belt use and child restraints.  Even where comprehensive laws are in place, poor enforcement renders them ineffective and post-crash care is often inadequate or lacking.  UNECA Member States need high-level political commitment to make road safety a priority.  This must be matched by improved coordination, innovative and traditional forms of funding, and strategic cross-sectoral partnerships.

In March 2010, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the period 2011-2020 to be the Decade of Action for Road Safety.  The overall goal of the Decade is to stabilize, and then reduce, the level of road traffic fatalities around the world.  A multifaceted Global Plan for the Decade was prepared as a practical tool to support the attainment of this goal.

We have a new opportunity to bolster current efforts:  an ambitious global target to reduce road traffic deaths by 50 per cent by 2030 compared to 2010 levels that is currently being considered in the context of the post-2015 sustainable development goals.  In addition, a United Nations Ministerial Conference to be hosted by the Government of Brazil is being organized in November 2015 to review the Decade and serve as a launch pad for new action.

Effective road safety policies and programmes can be developed, implemented and sustained if Governments take ownership of the issue.  I urge Conference participants to develop such strategies, along with measurable targets to end, once and for all, the tragic waste of life on Africa’s roads.