By Gift Briton
At least 100 countries have backed a new roadmap to cut road traffic fatalities in half by 2030. Known as the Marrakech Declaration for Global Road Safety, countries have committed to make road safety a political priority and sustain funding for road safety initiatives.
Ministers signed the declaration at the Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, held from February 18-20, 2025, in Marrakech, Morocco.
Every year, 1.2 million people die in road crashes, killing more than two people per minute. Road accidents are also the leading cause of death for children and young people aged 5-29, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Marrakech Declaration urges governments to prioritize safety in infrastructure, policies, and laws. It also calls for better coordination across ministries such as health, transport, and the environment.
The declaration also urges investments in safer, greener, and more accessible transport, promoting walking, cycling, and public transit. It highlights the role of technology, AI, and global knowledge-sharing in shaping the future of road safety.
Dr. Etienne Krug, WHO Director for the Department of the Social Determinants of Health praised the commitments: “To halve road deaths by 2030, we need bold action. This conference has delivered just that. We commend the countries stepping up and thank Morocco for its leadership. WHO is here to assist all countries in preventing road deaths.”
“We are proud to Conference, mobilizing UN member states and our international partners around an issue that concerns us all. As Africans in particular and as active members of the international community, we must celebrate this milestone. Every decision made here must translate into lives saved,” said Abdessamad Kayouh, Morocco’s Minister of Transport and Logistics.
Alongside the Marrakech Declaration, around 50 countries announced new national road safety plans to reduce road traffic fatalities.
Côte d’Ivoire set a target to increase helmet use among motorcyclists to 90% by 2027. Guinea also committed to ratifying the African Charter on Road Safety and aligning its policies with global standards.
In Asia, Thailand pledged to bring road deaths down to 12 per 100,000 people by 2027, while Bangladesh announced plans to introduce its first-ever national road safety law.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is set to update its national road safety strategy, ensuring a more comprehensive approach to reducing accidents.
Efforts to improve urban road safety were also highlighted, with Colombia vowing to lower speed limits to 50 km/h and 30 km/h in more cities, making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
In a major policy shift, the United Kingdom will release its first national road safety strategy in over a decade, signalling a renewed commitment to saving lives on the roads.
