Readout of Secretary-General's meeting with Ambassador Fuad Al-Hinai, Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman

The Secretary-General noted that every day, almost 3,500 people lose their lives on the world's roads, 85 per cent of them in low- and middle-income countries, making road safety a growing public health crisis as well as a hindrance to economic and social development.

"All of us can play a part in increasing safety and promoting sustainable transport," he said. "Millions of lives can be saved if we work together for real action on every highway and every street in every community".

To help raise global awareness, the Secretary-General was photographed wearing a yellow pin bearing the slogan, "Decade of Action for Road Safety 2010-2020" the Decade will be launched on 11 May 2011.