We need to rethink mobility to make our transport systems safe, healthy and sustainable

In the context of the 7^th UN Global Road Safety Week (15-21 May 2023), the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on governments to increase investments in walking, cycling and public transport, those modes of transport which are inherently healthy and sustainable. A prerequisite for shifting to these modes is to ensure roads are safe for all who use them.

“We must put people, especially the most vulnerable, at the heart of our decision making about how we move in the world,” notes Dr Etienne Krug, Director of the Department of Social Determinants of Health, World Health Organization. “Walking, cycling and public transport – when they are safe – can contribute to making people healthy, cities sustainable, and societies equitable.”

Road traffic injures are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with around 1.3 million people killed and as many as 50 million people injured each year. They are the leading killer of people aged 5-29 years. Globally, 1 of every 4 deaths occur among pedestrians and cyclists. Despite this, of more than 3 million km of roads assessed by the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) across 116 countries, only 16% were rated 3-star or better for pedestrians and only 23% were rated 3-star or better for cyclists.

Making way for safe walking and cycling can impact favorably on health and the environment, allowing people to stave off diseases such as cancer and diabetes; breathe clean air; and otherwise reap the rewards of being physically active. Safe and efficient public transport infrastructure can facilitate greater access to health, employment, education and other services and encourage investment, making for more equitable and prosperous societies.

Post-pandemic, countries and cities worldwide are taking this moment in history to rethink mobility. Some examples include:

During the 7^th UN Global Road Safety Week, members of the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety, a key collaborator, will host dozens of national and local activities, as a complement to events being planned by partners at global level. Among many others these include:

UN Global Road Safety Weeks are held every two years to raise attention to and action on a specific road safety challenge. They contribute to advocacy around the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030. This guiding framework reflects an ambitious target to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030. The Global Plan highlights that road traffic deaths and injuries can be prevented by addressing the whole of the transport system, ensuring safe roads, vehicles and behaviours as well as improving post-crash emergency care.