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Yesterday governments around the world took the historic decision to increase action to address the road safety crisis over the next ten years. The UN General Assembly resolution proclaiming a Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 (A/64/L.44/Rev.1) was tabled by the Government of the Russian Federation and cosponsored by more than 90 countries. WHO welcomes this proclamation which seeks to save lives by halting the increasing trends in road traffic deaths and injuries world-wide.

Through the Decade, Member States, with the support of the international community, commit to actions in areas such as developing and enforcing legislation on key risk factors: limiting speed, reducing drink-driving, and increasing the use of seatbelts, child restraints and motorcycle helmets. Efforts will also be undertaken to improve emergency trauma care, upgrade road and vehicle safety standards, promote road safety education and enhance road safety management generally.

This recent initiative comes on the heels of the First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, hosted by the Government of the Russian Federation in November 2009. The "Moscow Declaration" issued by ministers and senior officials from 150 countries underlines the importance of protecting all road users, in particular those who are most vulnerable such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

A draft Plan for the Decade, which was prepared by WHO with support from members of the UN Road Safety Collaboration, is now open to all stakeholders for comments. Visit the Collaboration's web site at http://www.who.int/roadsafety . All are invited to circulate this draft Plan among their respective networks to encourage awareness of the Decade, gather input on proposed plans, and garner support for the implementation of related activities.

The proclamation of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 is the result of concerted efforts by a large number of stakeholders, and is a great achievement. Today members of the UN Road Safety Collaboration meet to further discuss and plan implementation of the first activities to take place in the context of the Decade.

RELATED LINKS

• UN General Assembly Resolution A/64/L.44/Rev.1 Improving global road safety (final draft pending full list of cosponsors)
  http://doc.un.org/DocBox/docbox.nsf/GetAll?OpenAgent&DS=A/64/L.44/Rev.1 (available in all 6 UN languages)
• Draft Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020
  http://www.who.int/roadsafety/Decade_of_action.pdf
• First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety
  http://www.who.int/roadsafety/ministerial_conference/en/index.html
• Moscow Declaration
  http://www.who.int/roadsafety/ministerial_conference/declaration_en.pdf
• Global status report on road safety
  http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/2009/en/index.html