Road safety timeline
2004
World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention launched
On World Health Day 2004, WHO and The World Bank launch the World report on road traffic injury prevention. It underscored their concern that unsafe road traffic systems are seriously harming global public health and development, and that the level of road traffic injuries are preventable and unacceptable.
2004
UN Road Safety Collaboration established
The UN Road Safety Collaboration mechanism was established following UN General Assembly Resolution 58/289 inviting WHO, working in close cooperation with the UN regional commissions, to act as coordinator on road safety issues across the UN system.
2005
UN adopts World Day of Remembrance
In October 2005, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopts the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims as 'the appropriate acknowledgement for victims of road traffic crashes and their families.' Since then the day of remembrance has been marked every third Sunday in November.
2007
UN World Youth Assembly
In April 2007 more than 400 young people from over 100 countries gather to discuss the global road safety crisis and how young people can be part of the solution. The Youth Ambassadors aimed to create a global youth organization to advocate for road safety.
2007
First UN Global Road Safety Week
In May 2007, the First UN Global Road Safety Week highlights the fact that road traffic injuries are no accident and is dedicated to young road users who are the most affected by crashes.
2009
First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety
The First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety is hosted by the Government of the Russian Federation in November 2009. It culminates in the adoption of the Moscow Declaration, which invites the UN General Assembly to declare a Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020.
2009
Global status report on road safety: time for action
The first WHO Global Status Report on Road Safety is launched.
2009
Launch of Youth for Road Safety (YOURS)
The official launch of YOURS - the Youth for Road Safety non-governmental organization - is held during the First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Moscow, Russia.
2011
Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020
The Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 is launched In May 2011. The Decade marked a historic opportunity for countries to stop and reverse the trend which – without action – would lead to the loss of around 1.9 million lives on the roads each year by 2020.
2011
Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020
The Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 is launched in May 2011. The Plan serves as a guide for actions to achieve the goals of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011–2020.
2013
Global Status Report on Road Safety: Supporting a Decade of Action
The launch of the Global Status Report on Road Safety is held in March 2013.
2013
Second UN Global Road Safety Week
The 2nd UN Global Road Safety Week was dedicated to pedestrian safety. The Week drew attention to the urgent need to better protect pedestrians worldwide.
AMEND
2013
Strengthening Road Safety Legislation: A practice and resource manual for countries
WHO releases the Practice and Resource Manual for countries on Strengthening Road Safety Legislation. It provides methods and resources decision-makers to use for enacting legislation as part of a comprehensive road safety strategy.
2015
Global Status Report on Road Safety 2015
The next Global Status Report on Road Safety is released in 2015.
2015
Second Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety
The Second Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety is hosted by the Government of Brazil in November 2015. The Conference culminated in the Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety to guide action through the UN Decade of Action 2011-2020 and beyond.
2015
Third UN Global Road Safety Week
The 3rd UN Global Road Safety Week was dedicated to the plight of children on the world's roads.
FIA Foundation
2015
Launch of Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety 2015-2019
February 2015: Bloomberg Philanthropies Selects Ten Cities and Five Countries to Participate in New Phase of the Global Road Safety Initiative 2015-2019.
2015
Reporting on Road Safety: A guide for journalists
Produced jointly by WHO and the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, the road safety guide for journalists reflects the experiences and lessons learned from journalists and editors and offers suggestions for new story angles.
2016
Convening of Road Safety Legislators
A network of road safety legislators is launched in December 2016 in a concerted show of commitment to action to improve road safety worldwide.
2017
WHO-JHU Online Course on road safety legislation
WHO and Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit release a new online road safety legislation course for leaders and law makers.
2017
Fourth UN Global Road Safety Week
In May 2017, The UN Global Road Safety Week focused on reducing speeds, especially around schools and other areas with many pedestrians.
WHO
2017
Voluntary global targets for road safety risk factors and service delivery mechanisms
In November 2017, UN Member States finalize Voluntary global targets for road safety risk factors and service delivery mechanisms.
2018
UN Road Safety Trust Fund
The United Nations Road Safety Fund is launched in April 2018 to boost road safety worldwide and support countries in achieving the road safety-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
2018
Global Status Report on Road Safety 2018
The fourth Global Status Report on Road Safety is launched in December 2018.
2019
Fifth UN Global Road Safety Week
In May, the 5th UN Global Road Safety Week puts on emphasis on leadership for road safety.
Youth for Road Safety
2020
Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety
The Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety is hosted by the Government of Sweden in February. The Ministerial Conference culminated in the forward-looking “Stockholm Declaration”, which calls for a new global target to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50%.
2020
Decade of Action Academic Expert Group recommendations
In February 2020, an Academic Expert Group unveils its recommendations for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.
2020
Launch of Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety 2020-2025
Bloomberg Philanthropies Selects 15 Countries and 10 Cities to participate in the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) 2020-2025.
WHO / Walter Owens
2021
Sixth UN Global Road Safety Week
The sixth UN Global Road Safety Week in May 2021 calls on policy-makers to act for low-speed streets in cities worldwide, limiting speeds to 30 km/h (20 mph) where people live, work and play. Low-speed streets make for cities that are not only safe, but also healthy, green and livable.
Road Safety Pioneers Iran
2021
MOU between WHO and WB, ITF, and FIA on road safety data collection and policy making
(September) WHO joins the ongoing collaboration to establish and strengthen work programs of regional Road Safety Observatories.
2021
Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030
WHO kicks off a Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, with the ambitious target of preventing at least 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.
2022
UN Road Safety Political Declaration
In June 2022 UN Member States adopt a political declaration on improving road safety during the High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on Global Road Safety.
2022
UN General Assembly High-level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety
In July 2022, the UN General Assembly hosts first High-level Meeting on Global Road Safety under the overall theme “The 2030 horizon for road safety: securing a decade of action and delivery”.
2022
A new Global Network of Heads of National Road Safety Agencies is established
The first meeting of a new Global Network of Heads of National Road Safety Agencies is held to spur action to achieve the target of reducing road traffic deaths by 50% by 2030.
2023
Seventh UN Global Road Safety Week
The 7th UN Global Road Safety Week focuses on sustainable transport, in particular the need to shift to walking, cycling and using public transport.
WHO
2023
80 countries attend the first meeting of the Network of Heads of Road Safety Agencies
The first in person meeting with the Global Network of Heads of National Road Safety Agencies is held in Stockholm, Sweden, with around 80 countries participating.
2023
MOU between WHO and ITF to expand co-operation to new areas at the intersection of human mobility and public health
(November) The International Transport Forum (ITF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) sign MOU to strengthen their collaboration on road safety and expand their co-operation to new areas at the intersection of human mobility and public health.
2023
Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023
The fifth Global Status Report on Road Safety is launched on 13 December 2023.
