Road traffic accidents are the eighth leading cause of death worldwide and the number one cause of death for children over 5 years old and young adults below 30. In addition to human suffering, road traffic deaths and injuries cause significant economic losses to individuals and societies.

"I would like to underline one aspect of road safety, which often seems forgotten – and that is the developmental aspect. The economic impact road safety fatalities and injuries have on the societies in which they happen is huge," underlined Jean Todt, FIA President Jean Todt, who also serves as the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, during the launch.

Traffic accidents exacerbate poverty creating an estimated €1,85 trillion burden on the global economy each year.

Faced with improving road traffic safety, simple solutions, such as awareness raising and education, have the potential to save lives.

The Geneva Friends of Road Safety Network, building on Jean Todt’s efforts and other EU activities, aims to raise awareness on the issue of road safety and to support increased action in the field, including through mobilising funding and increasing development cooperation. The informal network is open to the participation of all ambassadors and international officials accredited to the United Nations Organisation in Geneva.

In order to improve road safety all over the world, the EU and a number of its member states contribute to the UN Road Safety Trust Fund, and the EU has launched several projects in support of road safety with its developing partners. Sweden, an EU member state, will also be hosting the next Global Conference on Road Safety, which is scheduled to take place in 2020.

Source:
Delegation of the European Union to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva: https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/un-geneva/60261/drive-safely-%E2%80%93-eu-delegation-hosts-launch-geneva-friends-road-safety-network_en