Statement at the launch of the Second Decade of Action on Road Safety 2021-2030

MESSAGE OF THE UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR, MR GEORGE WACHIRA ON THE LAUNCH OF THE 2ND DECADE OF ACTION FOR ROAD SAFETY IN ESWATINI, HELD AT ESIBAYENI LODDE ON 22 JUNE 2022

Delivered by Ms. Amina Mohammed, UNICEF Representative

Your Excellency the Right Honourable Prime Minister

Minister of Public Works and Transport

Senior Government Officials

The Eswatini Road Safety Council

Development Partners

The United Nations colleagues

Members of the media

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

Sanibonani bekunene

Road safety (or indeed the absence of it) has become a global public health concern. In fact, I am tempted to admit that it is another pandemic – adding to the many that the world is currently battling with.

Let me start by recognizing the good work done by His Majesty’s Government on Road Safety. Launching the 2nd Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021 – 2030 in the Kingdom of Eswatini underscores a firm commitment to saving lives and protecting the vulnerable.

In September 2020, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 74/299 on "Improving global road safety", which proclaims the 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. WHO and the UN regional commissions, in cooperation with other partners in the UN Road Safety Collaboration, have developed a Global Plan for the Decade of Action, which was launched in October 2021.  

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me, on behalf of the UN Family, to also congratulate the Kingdom in Ratifying the African Union Road Safety Charter. This step means that the Kingdom has legally accepted the obligation to improve road safety for her citizens. Might I add that this critical step signifies the Kingdom’s commitment not only to a safe Eswatini, but a safer world.

Your Excellency,

Globally, road traffic accidents cause nearly 1.3 million preventable deaths and an estimated 50 million injuries each year – making it the leading killer of children and young people worldwide. Also of major concern is the fact that for every 1 person who dies in a road traffic crash, 20 are injured and 1 in 20 of those injured are left with a disability either through amputation or spinal injuries.

In the next decade, the estimates are even higher. These needless loss of lives and avoidable deaths hinder sustainable development for low- and middle-income countries like Eswatini as resources are redirected to saving as opposed to improving lives. It is alarming to note that low- and middle-income countries account for more than 90% of all road traffic deaths despite having less than 60% of the world’s motor vehicles. 

In 2022, Eswatini had 2312 road traffic accidents, of which 54 lives were lost (and I am only referring to statistics between January and April 2022). In 2021, there were a total of 7294 road traffic accidents and 192 people were killed; many more were injured.

Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen,

It was during the 1st Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020) that UN member states agreed to include two specific targets on road safety as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG target 3.6 sought to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 2020; and SDG target 11.2 which aims to provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport by 2030.

As the UN Family, we have also committed, together with the Government and partners, to reducing morbidity and mortality through deaths due to road traffic injuries. The UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the period 2021-2025 puts people at centre of our work through investing in human resources and social development.

The first Road Safety Decade of Action which covered the period 2011-2020 prioritized the following pillars:

1) road safety management; 2) safer roads and mobility; 3) safer vehicles; 4) safer road users and 5) post-crash response.

The 2nd Decade of Action for Road Safety builds on the considerable work done in the first Decade of Action and compels us to do more.

This Decade of Action presents a wonderful opportunity for Eswatini to plan and build better.  Rapidly evolving technology, increasing density and population growth in urban areas, along with the emergence and growing presence of micro-mobility and the use of mobility services are a tip of the iceberg of the challenges that lie ahead.

I am advised that the working group discussed the five pillars of second Decade of Action yesterday, which I am also going to highlight for the benefit of all of us here today.

Pillar 1: Multimodal transport and land use planning

• Our infrastructural investments and policies must improve safety, both from traffic and crime, and address gender safety concerns. This will encourage multimodal transport use and active mobility.

Pillar 2: Safe road infrastructure

• Our road infrastructure must be planned, designed, built, and maintained to enable multimodal mobility and eliminate or minimize risks for all road users.

Pillar 3: Safe vehicles

• We should provide, through legislation if we have not done so already, a minimum set of safety standards for vehicles, considering all categories of vehicles.

Pillar 4: Safe road use

• We must ensure that road traffic laws create a culture of safe road user behaviour and are always enforced.

Pillar 5: Post-crash response

• The systems we create must facilitate an environment of appropriate, integrated and coordinated care.

Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen,

It is evident that a-whole-of-Government approach is critical for the success of the goals we have set. Multi-sectoral and multistakeholder engagements are essential in defining our success in the next decade. Moreover, ensuring that current legislative frameworks for road safety are in line with global standards and emerging needs, guiding the process of developing an action plan and overseeing compliance is best done under the oversight of the government. 

The world, including Eswatini, is rapidly motorizing, and more concerted action is needed, and it is needed now. Road users themselves must do their part. The UN has taken this road safety challenge seriously and it is the duty of all other international organisations, non-governmental organisations, community based organisations and civic groups to do the same. Without this, families and communities will continue to grieve.

The time to act is now. The intolerable death and injury toll and the start of the next Decade of Road Safety, give us impetus to do things differently.

Let us make safer roads for a safer Eswatini. Let us join hands in crafting a new vision for safer and healthier Eswatini.

I thank you.

Siyabonga Kakhulu.