UN launches Global Road Safety Campaign in India, calls for an end to 'silent epidemic' of road accidents

Road crashes are a “silent pandemic” that claim thousands of lives every year, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety Jean Todt said as he unveiled the Indian edition of the #MakeASafetyStatement global road safety awareness campaign in New Delhi.

The initiative features celebrities promoting simple, everyday actions that can save lives on the road like wearing seat belts, driving at safe speeds, wearing a helmet, not texting and driving, not driving under the influence, not driving while tired, and respecting cyclists and pedestrians.
 

Digital billboards and posters carrying the campaign’s messages will be visible in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru. The campaign will also be shared on social media, highlighting the importance of leaders from different fields supporting road safety. As part of the Indian launch, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar released a video backing the initiative, joining a group of celebrities and sporting champions designated as Global Champions for Road Safety.

Global push to halve road deaths

In India, road traffic crashes remain a major public health concern, claiming an estimated 153,972 lives annually, with a death rate of 15.4 per 100,000 population. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists account for a significant portion of fatalities. Working together to address road safety can help reduce the number of victims on the roads in a nation like India that is marked by rapid growth in mobility, Mr. Todt said.

 

The Special Envoy’s visit comes 11 months after the Declaration of Marrakesh, where UN Member States agreed to accelerate efforts under the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety, with the goal of halving the number of road victims by 2030.

First announced in 2022, the #MakeASafetyStatement campaign will be displayed in 80 countries and 1,000 cities by the end of 2026 through a global partnership between the United Nations and JCDecaux. It has already been deployed in more than 50 countries, including Belgium, the United States, Japan, Nigeria, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates, on public displays in airports, train stations, metros and shopping centres.

UN Road Safety Fund project in India

In addition to the campaign, the United Nations also launched a project funded through the UN Road Safety Fund, titled Sustainable Financing for Road Safety in India A Collaborative Approach. Implemented with technical support from the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the project aims to strengthen road safety across India.