One year on, global commitment to the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 intensifies

On 11 May 2011, the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 was launched in more than 100 countries, with one goal: to prevent five million road traffic deaths globally by 2020. Moving from the Global Plan for the Decade to national action, many countries have taken measures towards improving road safety, either by developing national plans for the Decade (e.g. Australia, Mexico, the Philippines); introducing new laws (e.g. Chile, China, France, Honduras); or increasing enforcement of existing legislation (e.g. Brazil, Cambodia, the Russian Federation), among other concrete actions. The recent UN General Assembly resolution on global road safety sponsored by more than 80 countries gives further impetus to the Decade by calling on countries to implement road safety activities in each of the five pillars of the Global Plan.

• Decade progress
  ppt, 1.96Mb

In the context of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, governments around the world have been encouraged to develop national plans for the Decade, as a complement to any current national road safety strategy which may be in place. Ideally, national Decade plans should be in line with the Global Plan, although should be tailored to the specific road safety situation in the country.

• National plans for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020

The Global Plan provides an overall framework for activities which may take place in the context of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. The categories or "pillars" of activities are: building road safety management capacity; improving the safety of road infrastructure and broader transport networks; further developing the safety of vehicles; enhancing the behaviour of road users; and improving post-crash care. These six short video clips explain each of the five pillars and the Global Plan as a whole.

On 11 May 2011, the first ever Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 was launched with great enthusiasm and optimism across the world. "Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020: global launch" offers some of the highlights of the launch from across the globe, detailing events both big and small - from high-level ministerial gatherings and press conferences to local public awareness-raising events. It captures many of the visuals from these gatherings, including the illuminations of iconic landmarks with the road safety "tag." The brochure also documents the release of national plans for the Decade as well as introductions of new road safety legislation in a number of countries.

• Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020: global launch