The UN have produced a draft proposal for a UN Road Safety Fund to support achievement of SDGs 3.6 and 11.2. This is a very positive move that elevates road safety as a public health issue and sets the agenda for how it should be recognized by our governments.
As road safety NGOs and experts, our views are important and assist UNECE in producing a feasible and achievable solution to present to member states. It is our responsibility, with our on-the-ground experience, to share our practical knowledge.
The draft proposal was launched at the Global Sustainable Transport Conference held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, in November 2016 and the consultation is open for submission of comments until 15 August 2017.
The proposed UN Road Safety Fund will aim at bridging the gaps in the mobilization of adequate resources to fund road safety projects at local, national and global levels. The total additional grant funding for road safety needed to achieve the SDG road safety targets is estimated at $770 million annually over the next decade. Funding should be provided by voluntary contributions from member States, philanthropies and from innovative funding mechanisms such as contributions from each car or tire sold or contributions from insurance companies that are to benefit from a reduction in road traffic crashes.
The proposed UN Road Safety Fund will serve as a vehicle to leverage additional funding. It is estimated that every $100 million contributed to the Fund would support:
With $770 million of grant funding per year over the coming decade, the proposed UN Road Safety Fund could save 5 million lives and avert 50 million serious injuries in low and middle-income countries.
To read the proposal and add your comments, click HERE.
