New General Assembly resolution seeks to curb road traffic injuries

A new resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly today urges stepped up efforts to boost road global road safety.

According to a report of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon which was prepared by the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners, almost 1.2 million people are killed and millions more injured or disabled due to road crashes every year, with road traffic injuries being the leading cause of death worldwide for those between the ages of 10 and 24.

Today’s resolution, which was passed without a vote, called on Member States to support endeavours by low- and middle-income nations in setting their national road traffic casualty reduction targets.

It stressed the “importance of addressing global safety issues and the need for further strengthening international cooperation, taking into account the needs of developing countries by building capacities in the field of road safety, and providing financial and technical support for their efforts.”

Additionally, the resolution appealed to Member States to continue observing the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, which falls on the third Sunday of November annually.

The text also welcomed Russia’s offer to host the first high-level conference on road safety next year which seeks to bring together government ministers and others dealing transport, health, education, safety and other traffic law enforcement issues.