More than 270 000 pedestrians die on the world's roads each year. We are all pedestrians, but many transport systems neglect our needs.5 May 2013 – This year, the second Global Road Safety Week, starting on 6 May 2013, is dedicated to pedestrian safety. The Week aims to highlight the need to improve pedestrian safety worldwide, to generate action on required measures, and contribute to achieving the ambitious goal of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011–2020 to save 5 million lives. In addition, improvements in pedestrian safety may encourage people to walk more, reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, dementia, depression and obesity.

Road Safety Week follows the launch of the Global Status Report for Road Safety in March 2013, which provides the most recent road safety data at global, regional and country levels. The report shows that 10% of all global road traffic fatalities happen in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, with vulnerable road users accounting for 45% of these deaths.