The Decade of Action for Road Safety — the United Nations plan to reduce the number of road traffic fatalities around the world by 2020 — begins May 11, 2011.
Each day, 3,500 people are killed by traffic fatalities worldwide, amounting to 1.3 million deaths each year.
According to the World Health Organization’s website, “The objectives [of the launch] are to:
• draw attention to the Decade and more generally to the impact of the global road safety crisis and the prospects for prevention;
• provide an opportunity for governments, international agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector and other stakeholders to announce their respective plans for the Decade.”
In her announcement of the program, FIA Foundation Road Safety Director Bella Dinh-Zarr, Ph.D., said, “around the world key landmarks will turn yellow as the ‘Tag’ symbol for the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety is beamed out. From Australia’s Sydney Harbour Bridge to UK’s Trafalgar Square to Brazil’s Cristo Redentor Statue – of Action Tag will be everywhere.”
Activities are also a part of the launch, taking place in each of the 24 time zones, worldwide. In the United States, 30 cities have planned events as part of the launch.
Download the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020.