21 November 2017 – On 20 and 21 November 2017, WHO is holding a formal meeting of Member States to complete the work on the development of global performance targets for road safety risk factors and service delivery mechanisms. The outcome of the meeting is expected to result in an agreed set of targets based on proven interventions for road traffic injury prevention and control to guide the development of national targets to monitor progress at country level. 

The meeting coincides with the World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims 2017, which focuses on the Sustainable Development Goal target 3.6 to reduce road traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 50% by 2020. The World Day of Remembrance, which is observed on the third Sunday of November every year, was initially adopted by road victim organizations under the umbrella of the European Federation of Road Traffic Victims in 1995. Ten years later in 2005, it was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly as “the appropriate acknowledgement for victims of road traffic crashes and their families”. The Day is dedicated to commemorating the millions killed or injured in road crashes, as well as to paying tribute to police and medical professionals, who deal with the traumatic consequences of resultant deaths and injuries every day. 

Road traffic injuries kill over 1.25 million people in the world every year. The Eastern Mediterranean Region accounts for 10% of global deaths and has the second highest road traffic fatality rate in the world after the African Region. Nearly two thirds of the regional road traffic deaths occur among the younger and economically active age groups. Over 80% of road traffic deaths occur in the Region’s low- and middle-income countries. High-income countries have a fatality rate that is more than double the average rate of high-income countries globally. Besides the incalculable human toll, the economic implications are huge. Urgent action is needed in all countries in the Region regardless of their income level to address this grave public health and development concern. 

Related links 

Road Safety in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: an animated infographic | Arabic | French

Statement of Dr Etienne Krug, Chair of the UN Road Safety Collaboration 

More information on the  development of voluntary global performance targets for road safety  

Official web page of the World Remembrance Day