This year, more than one million people across the world will die from road traffic injuries. Several million more men, women and young people will be injured or disabled.

In addition to the human suffering, the annual cost of road traffic injuries worldwide runs to hundreds of billions of dollars. In low- and middle-income countries, the economic cost of road injuries will be more than the development aid they receive.

Despite increased awareness and more dynamic efforts to improve road safety, the epidemic of road traffic fatalities and injuries will continue to be an important public health and development issue. Trends in many countries, in particular low-and middle-income countries, suggest that the problem could become noticeably worse within the next decade. There remains a pressing need for greater efforts and resources.

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Ban-Ki Moon,

United Nations Secretary-General