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Red Cross and Red Crescent call for action to stop road accidents
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is calling on governments to pass and enforce traffic laws to reduce deaths and injuries caused by road accidents.
Road safety
On the eve of the first ever ministerial conference on road safety to be held in Moscow next week, the IFRC says nearly 1.3 million people die and up to 50 million are injured on the road each year.
The agency says the numbers of people who die in road crashes continue to rise in middle and low-income counties, thus adding to the economic hardships faced by people in these countries.
IFRC's Under-Secretary-General for Development, Matthias Schmale, says what is particularly unacceptable is that young people are paying the highest price.
"Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death in the 15 to 29 year old group and the second cause of death for 5 to 14 year olds. On top of this, bread winners die or are left paralyzed. Families' futures are crushed and medical bills overwhelm the family budget. In other words, road crashes fuel poverty."
Matthias Schmale says in developing countries estimates put the cost of road crashes to between 1 and 3 of the Gross National Product.
The IFRC is urging governments to pass and enforce traffic laws to reduce speeding, to fix strict limits on drinking and driving and to make the use of seat belts and helmets mandatory.
It is also calling for inclusion of First Aid in school curriculum and to train more drivers in First Aid.
Jocelyne Sambira, United Nations
(duration: 1'32)
