Under the slogan #MakeASafetyStatement, the campaign will also amplify the core messages of the New Decade of Action for Road Safety, which aims to halve the number of road traffic fatalities by 2030.
“Road safety is not high on the political agenda of most countries“Even though we know the solutions to road accidents, no action is taken on them,” said Jean Todt, United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety.
“With this campaign, together with the celebrities who join us and our partners JCDecaux and Saatchi & Saatchi, we are trying to reverse this and mobilize the political will that is needed to Increase action and funding to save millions of lives“, he added.
The campaign, which will begin in New York, will run through 2025 and reach approximately 1,000 cities in more than 80 countries through billboards, social media and other platforms.
So far, 14 celebrities, including tennis legend Novak Djokovic, Oscar-winning actress and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Michelle Yeoh, and supermodel Naomi Campbell, have pledged their support for the campaign.
Each contributed their own statement, such as “I drive slowly” or “I don't drive under the influence of alcohol.”
The 'silent pandemic'
Speaking at a press conference at United Nations Headquarters in New York, Mr Todt highlighted that road traffic accidents are the “leading cause of death” among people aged 5 to 29, with the vast majority occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
He noted that every year 1.2 million people die on the roads and between 40 and 50 million are injured, many of them seriously.
“It is a burden for the victims. [and] For the family, but it is also a high cost for the countries.“Mr. Todt continued, adding that the “recipes” for this problem include education, communication, law enforcement, as well as the quality of roads and vehicles.
Fasten seat belts
As a racing executive and former rally car co-driver, Special Envoy Todt stressed that simple measures such as buckling seat belts in the front and back seats or wearing a helmet could significantly improve safety.
In addition, drivers and passengers must refrain from using drugs, alcohol or phones while driving a vehicle and must avoid speeding.
Key resolution on road safety
The launch of the campaign follows the recent adoption of a resolution by the General Assembly to improve road safety worldwide.
Adopted last week, the resolution calls for greater efforts to reduce road deaths and injuries by implementing the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.
It calls on Member States to ensure that road safety becomes a “political priority”, inviting those that have not yet done so to “consider adopting comprehensive legislation on key risk factors”, such as non-use of seat belts, child restraint systems and helmets, as well as alcohol consumption and high-speed driving.
Member States are also encouraged to create “ministerial coordination mechanisms”, in particular between ministries of health, transport, education, infrastructure, interior and environment, to address cross-cutting issues.
