With 3,500 people, many of them children and young people, losing their lives on the world's roads every single day, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety Mr. Jean Todt, together with the European Commissioner for Transport Ms. Violeta Bulc, are calling for stronger action to make roads safer.
"We know how to make our roads safe: we need improved infrastructure, safer vehicles and better education. We need strong legislation and better enforcement of key risk factors like speeding, drink driving and distracted driving. We also need effective post-crash care when a crash occurs", said Mr. Todt in a joint video message for the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. "We are calling for strong joint action to stop this silent killer on our roads", appealed Ms. Bulc.
This year's World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims was observed on 19 November 2017 with the theme of "2020 Target: reduce road fatalities AND serious injuries by 50%". The 50% goal is in line with the target 3.6 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The European Federation of Road Traffic Victims (FEVR) is leading the coordination of activities related to the day.
Since the adoption of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in 2005, pursuant to United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/60/5, the day has become an important opportunity to remember the 1.25 million lives lost on the world’s roads every year, the 50 million more who are left seriously injured, and finally, those family members and loved ones which are so tragically affected by road crashes.