On March 2, 2010, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 64/255, proclaiming the period 2011-2020 as the Decade of Action for Road Safety, with a goal to stabilize and then reduce the forecast level of road traffic fatalities around the world. Recognizing that nearly half of the road fatalities worldwide are vulnerable road users, the resolution explicitly calls for inclusion of activities targeted at reducing the risk imposed on pedestrians and cyclist in the Plan of Action of the Decade. The resolution calls upon Member States to implement road safety activities, particularly in the areas of road safety management, road infrastructure, vehicle safety, road user behavior, road safety education and post-crash care, based on the Plan of Action. It further invites all Member States to set their own national road traffic casualty reduction targets to be achieved by the end of the Decade, and to pay attention to the needs of all road users, in particular the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users. Amongst ways to reduce road traffic accidents, the resolution clearly suggests building sustainable mass transportation systems, besides appropriate legislation, policy and infrastructure, and invites international financial institutions and regional development banks to assist developing countries in building these. Last but not least, the resolution promotes the organization of the second United Nations Global Road Safety Week to launch the Decade, and the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on the third Sunday of November every year. The United Nations Road Safety Collaboration has been requested to continue its role of informal consultative mechanism, including for the implementation of activities relating to the Decade. As a member, the International Federation of Pedestrians will actively participate in getting the necessary focus on pedestrians, cyclists and other sustainable transport modes and infrastructure in the Plan of Action. (Author/publisher)
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