How are young people included in the Global Plan?

Earlier last week, October 14, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the Global Plan for the Decade of Action 2021-2030. The Global Plan describes what is needed to achieve the road safety targets listed under the Decade of Action for Road Safety. The Plan also calls on governments and partners to implement and integrate the Safe Systems Approach. 

Young people and the Global Plan
The Global Plan is for inspiring national and local governments and stakeholders who have the ability to influence road safety. These would include civil societies, academia, private sectors, donors, communities, and youth leaders as they develop national and local action plans and targets for the Decade of Action. 

The Global Plan writes that young people have a big role to play in the achievement of the road safety targets by 2030. It emphasizes that there are two key reasons why young people have an important role in shaping the future transport system; first, they are the age group most affected by road crashes, and second. They are the generation that will inherit the outcomes of decisions.

According to the Plan, young people need to be consulted about their needs as they have the capacity to generate ideas on how to protect their peers and other vulnerable road users. Through resources, capacity development, and other opportunities, young people can also shape the road safety and mobility system in local and, eventually, global settings. 

“Meaningful engagement with young leaders can help foster greater ownership of the road safety issues as well as develop a new cohort of road safety advocates with a fresh perspective on the future of mobility.” 

The Safe Systems Approach 
The Global Plan seeks to integrate all elements of the Safe Systems Approach to address global road safety and mobility issues and to halve the number. These include multimodal transport and land-use planning, safe road infrastructure, safe vehicles, safe road use, and post-crash response.

The Safe Systems Approach - a core feature of the Decade of Action - recognizes that road safety is a complex system that places safety at its core. It recognizes that humans, vehicles, and road infrastructure need to interact in a way that would ensure the highest level of safety.

The plan prioritizes and implements the Safe Systems approach that positions road safety as a key driver of sustainable development. In order to successfully implement the Safe Systems approach, all stakeholders must be meaningfully involved and engaged. Young people, who make up a large part of the population, are taking action to address road safety concerns around the world through the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety. Take part today!