The regional perspective
IFRC is increasingly concerned about the rapid escalation of the global road safety crisis, which now kills 3,000 people every day. Road crash injury is a major but neglected global public health issue. Urgent action is now required to reverse the growing mortality rate that affects mainly young people.
The road safety situation will continue to deteriorate in low- and middle-income countries unless there are energetic coordinated responses. The situation is improving on the roads of developed countries but there is no room for complacency; efforts must be maintained to continue this positive trend.
National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are already active and committed in the field of road safety; they mobilize decision-makers, create awareness among young people and the wider public and provide courses in first aid.
The basic challenge of road safety is the need to change the behaviors of road users, to ensure that roadways are a shared public space rather than an area given over to potential violence. Cost-effective solutions do exist and we have a collective responsibility to apply them everywhere in order to save lives.
IFRC with the support of the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) and together with all sectors at the global, regional, national and sometimes local government level, provides technical support and advice on good practices and facilitates projects in a growing number of developing and transition countries.
e-mail: Health Officer, Dr. Pornsak Khortwong (PK), at Pornsak.khortwong@ifrc.org
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