The UN Road Safety Collaboration is pleased to announce the theme of the 5th UN Global Road Safety Week: “leadership for road safety.” Enlightened leaders are able to provide a vision of what the future might look like and to mobilize action to achieve this. This theme acknowledges that stronger leadership is needed to advance road safety in countries and communities worldwide. It is key to achieving road safety targets, including SDG target 3.6 to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50% by 2020 and SDG target 11.2 to provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all by 2030.
The goal of the Week, which will be held from 6-12 May 2019, is to generate a demand from the public for stronger leadership for road safety worldwide. Its objectives are to:
- provide an opportunity for civil society to generate demands for strong leadership for road safety, especially around concrete, evidence-based interventions which will save lives
- inspire leaders to take action by showcasing examples of strong leadership for road safety within governments, international agencies, NGOs, foundations, schools and universities, and private companies, among others
Targeted primarily at civil society organizations and policy-makers in charge of road safety, the lead up to the Week will follow a phased approach highlighting the risks people face on their daily travels – “this is my journey”; the demands they generate based on these risks – “this is my demand”; and the ways that forceful and compelling leaders can work with them to address these demands – “this is our solution”. The concrete, evidence-based interventions around which they will rally will be in line with those featured in SaveLIVES: a road safety technical packageand reflected in the newly established global performance targets for road safety. They include actions to improve road safety management; make roads, vehicles and road users safer; and enhance emergency and trauma care following a crash.
As they become available, resources to assist those who are planning activities and events to mark the Week, including logo and slogan, sign boards, template petition letters and pledge announcements, and a toolkit for organizers, will be available on this web page and on www.unroadsafetyweek.org/en/home