On the 1st July, the United Nations unveiled a global road safety campaign under the motto #MakeASafetyStatement. This initiative seeks to significantly improve traffic safety and foster the creation of inclusive, safe, and sustainable streets worldwide. The campaign also aims to bolster the core messages of the New Decade of Action for Road Safety, which aspires to halve the number of road-related casualties by 2030.
Jean Todt, UN Special Envoy for Road Safety, emphasised the critical need for heightened political attention to road safety issues, stating, “Road safety is not high enough on the political agenda in most countries. While we know the remedies to road crashes, action is lagging behind.”
The campaign, supported by notable partners JCDecaux and Saatchi & Saatchi, will leverage the influence of celebrities and social media to garner political will and financial backing essential for saving millions of lives. "With this campaign, together with the celebrities that are joining us, and our partners, we are trying to revert this and mobilize the political will that is needed to increase actions and financing to save millions of lives,” Todt added.
Launching in New York, this extensive campaign will extend through 2025, aiming to reach approximately 1,000 cities across more than 80 countries. It will feature prominent billboards, social media initiatives, and various other platforms to spread its vital message.
The campaign has already garnered the support of 14 celebrities, including tennis legend Novak Djokovic, Oscar-winning actress and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Michelle Yeoh, and supermodel Naomi Campbell, each contributing personal statements such as “I drive slow” or “I don’t drive under the influence,” to raise awareness and inspire global action towards road safety.
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