New Delhi witnessed a landmark moment in road safety efforts as Jean Todt, the UN Special Envoy for Road Safety, unveiled the ‘Make a Safety Statement’ global awareness campaign. This initiative calls on leaders from diverse sectors to champion everyday actions that save lives on the roads.
Digital billboards and posters featuring powerful statements from prominent figures will light up key cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru. The campaign extends to social media platforms, aiming to spark widespread conversations on prioritizing road safety.
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar joined the cause, releasing a supportive video as part of the Global Champions for Road Safety group. His involvement underscores the power of sports icons in driving public awareness.
Jean Todt emphasized the crisis at hand: “Road accidents represent a silent pandemic worldwide, claiming thousands of lives annually in India alone. The impact ripples through families and communities nationwide. With mobility surging in this dynamic nation, collective action can drastically reduce the toll.”
This launch follows the Marrakesh Declaration by 11 months, where UN members committed to halving road deaths by 2030. In India, road accidents remain a public health emergency, with nearly 154,000 fatalities each year and a mortality rate of 15.4 per 100,000 people. Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists bear the brunt, accounting for a significant share of tragedies.
Complementing the campaign, the UN rolled out a funded project titled ‘Sustainable Financing for Road Safety in India: A Collaborative Approach.’ Backed by the United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) and supported technically by WHO, UNICEF, and UNESCAP, it partners with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and states like Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Assam.
The project focuses on building a coordinated financing framework, enhancing capacities for effective road safety action plans, and curbing deaths and severe injuries. By fostering sustainable investments and multi-stakeholder collaboration, it promises long-term improvements in India’s road safety landscape.
As India races toward greater connectivity, initiatives like these offer hope for safer journeys ahead, urging every citizen to make their safety statement.