It’s time to #RethinkMobility: Support UN Global Road Safety Week

Star Rating for Schools and our partners are proud to support this year’s 7th UN Global Road Safety Week from 15-21 May with the theme #RethinkMobility.

Road traffic injures are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with around 1.3 million people killed and as many as 50 million people injured each year. For people aged 5-29 years, there is no greater threat to their lives. Globally, 1 of every 4 deaths occur among pedestrians and cyclists.

O Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 reflects an ambitious target to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030. It highlights that they can be prevented by addressing the whole of the transport system, taking action to ensure safe roads, vehicles and behaviours as well as to improve emergency care.

The World Health Organisation, in collaboration with global partners, is organising this 7th UN Global Road Safety Week (UNGRSW) focussed on sustainable transport and, in particular, the need to shift to walking, cycling and using public transport.

Road safety is both a prerequisite for and an outcome of this shift. Safer roads that put vulnerable road users at the heart of design are mandatory.

Campaign key messages 

Our partners are using Star Rating for Schools to assess the safety of school journeys in 63 countries, helping to improve high-risk school zone locations and protect our most vulnerable pedestrians and youth.

Armed with SR4S results, partners, decision-makers, funding institutions and youth have the evidence they need to #RethinkMobility – to advocate for change, design school journeys for safety, prioritise investment for impact and celebrate life-saving outcomes.

Safe school zones achieving the 3-star or better safety standard are supporting safe walking from a young age and access to education, helping to contribute to making people healthy, cities sustainable, and societies equitable.

We encourage our partners to mark this year’s week by organizing events and activities and sharing messages and materials on social media that celebrate and call for safer roads with the hashtags:
#RethinkMobility #StreetsforLife #RoadSafety

Please tag us in on twitter @SR4Schools so we can share your UNGRSW activities and great work helping to make school journeys safer across the world.