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UN General Assembly Adopts Declaration to Cut Road Traffic Deaths 50% by 2030
The UN General Assembly adopts a Declaration on road safety to address the “Silent Pandemic” of road traffic crashes. The Declaration reaffirms a target of reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50% by 2030 and calls for national institutional and policy measures.
UN General Assembly Declaration on Road Safety :
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Adopting authority | The Declaration is adopted by the UN General Assembly. |
| Stated framing | The Declaration provides for addressing the “Silent Pandemic” of road traffic crashes. |
| Global target | The Declaration reaffirms reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50% by 2030. |
| Institutional mechanism | Countries should establish or designate a National Lead Road Safety Agency to coordinate road safety efforts. |
| National strategy | A National Road Safety Strategy is to be adopted, funded, and implemented by countries. |
| Multi-pronged approach | The Declaration comprises measures: safe speed limits, safer road and land-use design, improved traffic rules and road signage, and adoption of internationally accepted vehicle safety technologies. |
| Public transport | The Declaration provides for safe, affordable, accessible, and inclusive public transport, particularly for children, older persons, and persons with disabilities. |
| Integration | The Declaration provides for integration of road safety with sustainable transport, urban planning, and public health. |
| India: Education initiatives | India’s initiatives comprise National Road Safety Month/Week, public awareness campaigns, and road safety audits. |
| India: Engineering initiatives | India’s initiatives comprise identification and rectification of accident-prone spots (black spots/corridors), safer road infrastructure, and vehicle safety features. |
| India: Enforcement initiatives | India’s initiatives comprise stricter penalties under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, and electronic traffic monitoring and enforcement. |
| India: Emergency care initiatives | India’s initiatives comprise PM RAHAT (Road Accident Victim Hospitalization and Assured Treatment) Scheme, Good Samaritan protection, and victim compensation. |
| Global initiatives listed | Global initiatives comprise UN Decade for the Sustainable Transport for 2026-2035, UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, and Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety (2015). |
| Global statistics (2025) | Over 1.1 million deaths in road crashes globally occur in 2025. |
| Global injuries (annual) | Around 50 million injuries occur annually due to road accidents. |
| Global: age group affected | Road crashes are the leading cause of death among children and youth in the 5–29 years age group. |
| Global: distribution of fatalities | Nearly 90% of road crash fatalities occur in low- and middle-income countries. |
| India statistics: road crashes | India records over 5.1 lakh road crashes, a 5.3% increase over 2024. |
| India statistics: fatalities | India records over 1.8 lakh road fatalities, 502 deaths per day, and a 3.5% increase compared to 2024. |
| India: zero fatalities location | Lakshadweep records no road fatalities for the second consecutive year. |