Vital Strategies, a global public health organisation; has emphasised on prioritising people on road, not vehicles in a bid to reduce road crashes across the globe, including Bangladesh.
Sandra Mullin, senior vice president (policy advocacy and communication) at the Vital Strategies, issued a statement following the release of World Health Organisation’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023, which indicates a five per cent drop in road traffic deaths since 2010.
“New data proves we can reduce global road deaths, but the alarming loss of life on our roads demands urgent uptake of proven interventions,” said Sandra Mullin in the statement issued on December 13.
“The estimated 1.19 million people killed on the world’s roads each year indicates that roads are still being built to prioritize vehicles, not people,” says the statement.
The World Health Organisation’s latest report reveals a five per cent reduction in traffic deaths globally. “Interventions to improve road safety are working. But the loss of life on our roads is continuing at an alarming rate,” says the statement.
Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and other riders of two- and three-wheeled vehicles account for more than half of traffic deaths around the world. The reality is even more stark in low- and middle-income countries, where traffic crashes account for 90 per cent of deaths, despite these countries having only around 60 per cent of the world’s motor vehicles.
Many cities in the world, including Dhaka city of Bangladesh, are particularly crowded, with pedestrians and cyclists competing for space with buses and other vehicles. Proper steps should be taken to more actively manage and design of streets and roads to prioritise moving people.
The Vital Strategies is working in Bangladesh to reduce road crashes in Dhaka city and some other cities in the country.
Safer streets for all is an attainable goal. However, it requires political will and relentless advocacy for lower speeds, safer street design, pedestrian-centric city planning, and less dependency on vehicles for transit. “We encourage governments, the road safety community, and the public to make sure that everyone, everywhere has access to the safe streets they deserve,” said Sandra Mullin.
She, however, said that the Vital Strategies, which is an implementing partner of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), supports governments in carrying out proven road safety interventions around the world. “We use our expertise to help cities strengthen road crash data systems, and then use that data to inform policy and action,” she said in the statement.
The expert on global road safety also said, “We guide the creation of strategic communication and mass media campaigns to change road user behavior. Finally, we serve as the main liaison among the initiative’s multiple global partners, governments, and city agencies to align efforts in implementing policy, infrastructure, enforcement, communication and surveillance programmes.”
“We work with governments, communities, and organisations around the world to reimagine public health so that health is supported in all the places we live, work and play,” said Sandra Mullin.