Amman, 14 May 2017 – In collaboration with Jordan Road Traffic Insatiate, Greater Amman Municipality and Royal Health Awareness Society, World Health Organization in Jordan marked the fourth United Nations Global Road Safety Week 2017 in a an event held at the children’s museum targeted school students from different governorates.

Around 1.25 million people die every year on the world’s roads. Studies indicate that typically 40–50% of drivers go over posted speed limits. Drivers who are male, young and under the influence of alcohol are more likely to be involved in speed-related crashes. Road traffic crashes remain the number one cause of death among young people aged 15–29 years. They are estimated to cost countries from 3-5% of gross domestic product and push many families into poverty. 

The event included educational sessions about road safety issues with the emphasis on the theme of the year “speed management” conducted by the staff of Jordan Traffic Institute who delivered the information in fun and engaging ways that spoke to the kids. 

Refaat who was involved in a road traffic crash that resulted in losing his right leg replaced now by a prosthesis leg shared his story with the kids and their parents to help increase the community’s awareness about the impact of traumatic injury. 

During her participation and support to the event Dr Maria Cristina Profili pointed out that the issue of road safety has been included in the priorities of WHO in the Eastern Mediterranean Region over the next 5 years with the intention of the Regional Office to intensify support  for national efforts to develop multisectoral strategic plans to address road crashes and to review national legislation in line with best global practices; Education and awareness-raising programs for road users, improvement of information and research systems, and strengthening of emergency medical care and rehabilitation services.

The Director General of the Royal Health Society Awareness Society Haneen Odeh, said that the society has been working on issues of public safety awareness, especially road safety for several years through programmes like “Think First”, and supported organizing events in conjunction with the Global Road Safety Week with partners from different sectors due to the importance of spreading community awareness about the dangers of non-compliance with traffic rules and speed limits. 

In Jordan, according to a study conducted by the Jordan Traffic Institute, the official body for the issuance of statistics and figures related to road accidents in Jordan, the number of human casualties of traffic accidents was 10835 injuries in 2016, with the rate of 29.7 accidents, 2.1 deaths and 47.8 injures occurred per day.

The Week is focusing on speed and what can be done to address this key risk factor for road traffic deaths and injuries. Speed contributes to around one third of all fatal road traffic crashes in high-income countries, and up to half in low- and middle-income countries.

Related link 

Fourth UN Global Road Safety Week 2017, Save Lives: #SlowDown