Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly

30 June 2022

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

I would like to begin by observing a moment of silence for all of those who were killed or seriously injured onroads all over the world.

Excellencies,

The statistics on road safety are both daunting and disturbing.

Nearly 1.3 million lives are claimed by road traffic accidents every year.

As  much as 3% of annual GDP in some countries is lost due to road accidents. 

And road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29 years. 

This trend can change

This trend must change.

Today’s High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety is one step for us to do just that.  

Under the theme, “The 2030 horizon for road safety: securing a decade of action and delivery” we can build political will and deliver concrete actions that help to save lives.

As we begin our deliberations, I have five core messages.

First, no deaths on our streets are acceptable.

For far too long, we’ve accepted far too many deaths.

And we have allowed the huge range of crucial benefits that arise from safe transport systems pass us by. 

Enough is enough.

Road safety falls under the umbrella of the universal right to health – a fundamental right of every human being, wherever they are and whatever the circumstances. 

Safety is paramount.  

Second, the Global Plan is key to reducing deaths and boosting development. 

The Global Plan of Action for the United Nations Decade of Road Safety 2021 – 2030 calls for a fundamental shift in how we approach mobility.

The Plan makes the best use of our investments in safe transport systems, and aims to halve preventable deaths by 2030. 

The safe systems approach recognizes that road transport is a complex system, with interconnecting elements that reinforce each other.

Safety therefore must be front and centre in how we organize, design and build out mobility systems.

All partners and stakeholders involved in building safe transport systems must be engaged in crafting road safety strategies.

Third, this High-Level Meeting could mark a critical juncture to address the issue of global road safety. 

Governments need to endorse the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety and urgently act on its recommendations. 

This includes setting national and sub-national reduction targets; outlining detailed plans for action; employing a whole-of-government approach; ensuring sustainable financing; and putting in place gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory policies and practices. 

Above all, implementation of the Global Plan is crucial, guided by evidence-based practices.   

Fourth, transformative leadership and good governance are key. 

To make this work, road safety must be a political priority at the highest levels of government.

Governments must lead and facilitate each country’s road safety strategy. They must set up and maintain the broad and inclusive coordination mechanisms to ensure that all ministries and partners are fully involved in building safe transport systems.

Governments are key to providing legal frameworks and funding. Long term, sustainable investment is needed to leverage existing investments in wider areas of the transport sector.

Fifth, and finally, everyone has a role to play. 

The safe systems approach calls on everyone involved to share in the responsibility for road safety, and in the design of road safety policies. 

We must include young people who are disproportionately affected by road safety incidents.

We must adopt a gender perspective into all policymaking, ensuring that women’s voices and perspectives are heard in designing policies that provide safe, inclusive and secure mobility. 

And we must take into account the views of those in vulnerable situations, such as persons with disabilities, and older persons. 

From urban planners, to engineers, and academia, to civil society – all have an important role to play. 

We must ensure that all stakeholders accept their responsibilities, and that mechanisms are put in place to support them.

This includes all those involved in designing and maintaining our roads, manufacturing our vehicles, and administering our safety programmes. 

And the role of the private sector is crucial. 

Excellencies,

Today’s High-level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety is a key opportunity and platform for us to make the changes needed:

To strengthen political will, scale up investment, and draw on lessons learned, to accelerate action on implementing the Global Plan for the Decade of Action on Road Safety 2021-2030.

As the tragic toll on our roads rises, the time for action from governments, societies and communities is now..

Safe mobility systems offer the promise of a safer, healthier and better future for everyone, everywhere.

Let us seize this opportunity.

I thank you.