Pedestrians, cyclists, and two- and three-wheeler riders are bearing the brunt of South-East Asia라이브 바카라 road safety crisis — with devastating consequences.
South-East Asia faces a road safety crisis, with pedestrians, cyclists, and two-wheeler riders accounting for 66% of traffic deaths. WHO urges urgent action to protect vulnerable road users.
Pedestrians, cyclists, and two- and three-wheeler riders are bearing the brunt of South-East Asia라이브 바카라 road safety crisis — with devastating consequences.
In 2021 alone, these vulnerable road users accounted for up to 66% of the region라이브 바카라 staggering 3,30,000 road traffic fatalities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). India, like many of its neighbours, remains at the epicentre of this tragedy.
Globally, road traffic crashes claim the lives of nearly 1.2 million people and leave up to 50 million more with non-fatal injuries each year — making road injuries not just a regional crisis, but a worldwide public health emergency.
Marking the start of the eighth UN Global Road Safety Week — observed every two years beginning on the third Monday of May — WHO grimly reminded that road traffic injuries continue to be the leading cause of death for individuals aged 5 to 29, cutting lives short while leaving behind shattered families.
In South-East Asia, where motorcycles and walking are essential modes of transport, this crisis hits hardest. From bustling city streets to rural roads, the region라이브 바카라 reliance on two-wheelers — often without adequate safety infrastructure — has turned mobility into a deadly risk, pointed out Saima Wazed, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia (WHO-SEARO) region.
She called upon the governments to prioritise safer infrastructure and policies for pedestrians and riders. These aren’t just preventable tragedies — they are urgent calls to protect the very people who keep our cities moving, said Wazed.
“These tragedies are not mere statistics. They are the loss of children, parents, and loved ones, and are largely preventable,” Wazed added.
This year, the theme urges the world to make walking and cycling safe for everyone.
“Walking and cycling are an integral part of the multimodal transport systems in the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2020-2030. They also promote healthy and sustainable cities and lifestyles," she added.
“This year라이브 바카라 theme is a timely call to action. Pedestrians and cyclists already account for more than one in four road traffic deaths. Ensuring their safety is not only a matter of saving lives,” she said.
Prioritising walking and cycling supports physical activity, which is a key modifiable risk factor for noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancers, she said.
She added that the two activities also support mental well-being, helping to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Creating safe, inclusive, and accessible roads for all in the densely populated cities of South-East Asia is challenging, she said.
Urging all members, civil society, the private sector, and communities to push for people-centred mobility policies, safer road design, safe vehicles, and lower speed limits, the WHO SEARO chief, said together, we should ensure that every person - especially children and youth - can walk and cycle safely in our communities and on roads.
“By doing so, we not only improve road safety but also advance climate action, health promotion, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” Wazed said.