New York, USA - Located at the corner of Tunnel Exit St. and E 39th Street - just steps from the United Nations Headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, UNITAR's "Safe Driving is Cool" Mural envisions a future in which roads are safer places for drivers and pedestrians. It is a reminder that road safety is a shared responsibility that must be prioritized to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2030 (UN Sustainable Development Goal 3.6).
Art has long been a powerful medium to spark social transformation. This mural demonstrates how street art can contribute to building stronger community bonds around key development challenges. The Mural aims to reinforce positive social norms-making responsible behaviour on the road something admired, something aspirational. In short, it aims to remind us that safe driving is cool.
- highlighted Ms. Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, UN Assistant Secretary General and Executive Director of UNITAR, during her recent visit.
The vibrant piece of public art is more than a visual statement; it is a call to action in line with the UN Decade of Action for Safety (2021-2030), aimed at reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50% by 2030.
By portraying a hopeful and dynamic vision of safer streets, it features expressive characters in motion-pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers navigating vibrant urban scenes-bringing road safety themes to life in a language that is visual, emotional, and universally understood.
The Mural comes to life through its augmented reality component. By using the "Behind the Wall" mobile app, viewers can engage with the mural using their phones, unlocking educational content that raises awareness on road safety and encourages people to take action in their daily lives.
Facilitated by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA) and the City of New York Mayor's Office, the "Safe Driving is Cool" Mural continues to serve as a symbol of what's possible when creativity, education, and partnership converge. It is not just paint on brick-it is an invitation to everyone to reflect, engage, and make safer choices.
