Road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death and disability in the European Region, with more than 62 000 people killed and a further 892 000 people seriously injured each year. WHO estimates that at least one third of those killed or injured in traffic accidents in the Region are pedestrians and cyclists.
WHO joins the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week to spur action at national and local levels to make walking and cycling safe.
Governments, international agencies, civil society, businesses and schools can take concrete, specific interventions to improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, such as:
- introducing 30 km/h speed limits in areas where motorized traffic mixes with pedestrians and cyclists;
- building pedestrian crossings and footpaths;
- segregating pedestrian footpaths and cycling paths from heavy, fast-moving motorized traffic; and
- promoting the proper use of quality bicycle helmets.
These actions will help to promote and facilitate a shift to safer walking and cycling, which are more healthy, green, sustainable and economically advantageous modes of transport. This will also contribute, directly and indirectly, to the attainment of many Sustainable Development Goals.
Safe walking and cycling can contribute to making people healthy, cities sustainable and societies equitable
Safe, walking and cycling can have many positive impacts:
- walking and cycling can positively impact our health and environment through reductions in heart and lung disease, cancer and diabetes as well as decreases in air and noise pollution, with research showing that walking for 30 minutes or cycling for 20 minutes most days reduces the total mortality risk for adults by at least 10% across the population;
- choosing to bike or walk instead of driving lowers carbon emissions and helps to mitigate climate change; and
- walking and cycling help to promote more equitable societies, where people of all socioeconomic levels have the same degree of access to what their cities offer.