UN General Assembly adopts Declaration aiming to end the ‘Silent Pandemic’ of Road Traffic crashes.

Key Highlights of the Declaration

• Target: Reaffirms reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50% by 2030.
• National Lead Road Safety Agency: Countries should establish or designate a National Lead Road Safety Agency to coordinate road safety efforts.
• National Road Safety Strategy: To be adopted, funded and implemented by countries.
• Multi Pronged Approach: Safe speed limits, Safer road and land-use design, Improved traffic rules and road signage, Adoption of internationally accepted vehicle safety technologies.
• Promoting Public Transport: Safe, affordable, accessible and inclusive particularly for children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
• Integration: Of Road safety with sustainable transport, urban planning and public health.

Initiatives Taken for road safety

India

• Education: National Road Safety Month/Week; public awareness campaigns, Road safety audits.
• Engineering: Identification and rectification of accident-prone spots (black spots/corridors); safer road infrastructure and vehicle safety features.
• Enforcement: Stricter penalties under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019; electronic traffic monitoring and enforcement.
• Emergency Care: PM RAHAT (Road Accident Victim Hospitalization and Assured Treatment) Scheme; Good Samaritan protection; victim compensation etc.

Global

• UN Decade for the Sustainable Transport for 2026-2035
• UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 
• Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety (2015)