MARRAKESH: Govts and agencies must design transport system for people and not for cars, World Health Organization (WHO) director general Tedros Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday, urging global communities to support the cause of road safety.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the 4th ministerial conference on road safety, he said, “In this complex and often divisive world, road safety is surely an issue that we can all rally around. It can help make people healthy, cities sustainable and societies equitable.”
While highlighting how 10 countries have reduced road fatalities by half in the past decade and another 35 nations by 30%, the WHO chief said road traffic deaths in Africa increased by 17%.
“This is because in Africa and elsewhere, many countries are expanding transport systems designed for cars, not people. A safe system approach to mobility puts people and safety first, with a focus on mass transit and other forms of efficient and sustainable transport. It prioritises the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users, who account for more than half of all deaths,” he said.
Addressing the conference, which has participants from more than 100 countries, UN special envoy for road safety Jeean Todt said, “Every year an entire city like Marrakesh is wiped out by road crashes. It’s scary.”
Tedros urged govts to lead mobility strategies that are rooted in good data, backed by strong laws and sufficient funds, and include all sectors of society. He urged academia and civil society to generate evidence and hold leaders to account.
Later in the day, WHO’s Etienne Krug said the world is in turmoil with several interlinked crises, such as wars, climate change and cuts to development aid. “But there is one crisis that we are sure that we can solve. And the road safety crisis is something we can all get behind as well,” he said.
