"24 years ago, I got the call that no parent ever wants. My son Kevin was lying on the road in Buenos Aires. A 20 year-old driving at twice the speed limit had jumped a red light, hit my son and fled," says Viviam Perrone, Co-Chair of the International Road Victims Partnership.
"He was one of 3700 people who died [in road crashes] that day, but he was my son. No more Kevins. We must work together to end this," she said to a hearing on road safety at the United Nations in New York City.
"This silent pandemic is right in front of us. Nearly 1.2 million people are killed each year," said Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly, in opening remarks to the preparatory hearing for the UN High-Level meeting on Improving Global Road Safety that will bring global leaders together to advance road safety in July.
"Road safety cuts across all three pillars of the UN," Baerbock continued. "It's a matter of well-being and security. It's an economic issue given the huge financial and social cost, and it is linked to sustainability through safer, cleaner and more accessible transport systems. Lasting solutions can only be achieved when all voices are heard and when all sectors work together."
The hearing allowed Member States, United Nations entities, civil society, youth representatives, academia, philanthropic organizations, the private sector and other stakeholders to share experiences, identify barriers and propose actions to accelerate implementation of commitments to halve road traffic deaths and injuries worldwide by 2030 .
"We must double down on delivery. We need safe road systems where all crashes are survived without serious injury. This means road systems designed for people, not cars – where safety is always priority, backed with strong institutional coordination, better data systems and secure financing," said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a video message.
Civil society representatives called for road safety commitments to be matched by financing, transparent reporting and community validation. As well as stronger national strategies, enforcement, child-responsive road safety, safer school journeys, safe motorcycle helmets, safer infrastructure and better use of existing international legal frameworks.
"We don't have a knowledge gap, we have an implementation gap," noted Lotte Brondum, Executive Director of the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety.
"Accountability requires three things," said Piyush Tewari from the Safe Live foundation, "Public time-bound reduction targets, regular reviews against real world crash data and a single named officer, responsible for outcomes. Where this has been applied results have followed."
Participants called for increased financing and smarter use of existing funds and resources, with road safety fully integrated into transport, infrastructure, urban development, climate, health and public finance investments from the outset, not as an afterthought.
"Urban planners determine whether streets are walkable, connected and safe for all road users. Health ministries build the surveillance systems that make injury burdens and risk factors visible. Climate negotiators and transport planners shape whether active mobility and public transport prioritize national commitments. Finance ministries make the budget decisions," said Abdulgafoor Bachani, Associate Professor of Public Health and Johns Hopkins University.
The hearing produced a series of key themes for global leaders, including stronger action and accountability, better governance and coordination, financing, stronger data systems and capacity, safer infrastructure, streets and speed management, vehicle and motorcycle safety, and a greater focus on post-crash response and victims' rights.
"We must close the gap between commitments and reality," said Jean Todt, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety. "Progress demands systems that protect people even when mistakes are made. The ambition of our solutions must match the scale and urgency of this crisis."
