Youth Coalition launches last Policy Brief on Health and Road Safety

 
 
 



30 April 2024 - The Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety released the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Policy Brief on Road Safety and Public Health. The Brief titled “Advocating for Road Safety and Well-Being”  is the last one in the SDG Series published by the Youth Coalition SDG Champions. It joins six others on Quality Education, Gender Equality, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Climate Action. 

The Policy Brief was launched during the Webinar titled “Youth at the Intersection of Three Public Health Priorities: Transport, Well-Being, and Climate", which explored the challenges faced by young people exposed to unsafe transport systems.


 
 



A number of high-level speakers were invited to the event, mainly Ex-Director General of Traffic in Spain Dr. Maria Segui Gomez, Founder and Strategic Coordinator of the NADA Foundation for Safer Egyptian Roads Dr. Ahmed Shelbaya, Technical Officer in the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) unit in the WHO Egypt Country Office Dr. Heba AlSawahli, Liaison Officer for Public Health Issues at the IFMSA Dr. Salman Khan, and Youth Coalition Members Dr. Mohamed Eissa, Dr. Rim El Sherbiny, and Steffel Ludivin Feudjio Tezong.

 

The SDG Policy Brief talks about how the integrated action areas of the Safe System Approach enhances safety for transportation networks and contributes to the development of healthier, more equitable, and sustainable communities.

In addition to managing vehicle speeds and designing safe streets, measures such as proactive land use planning and improved public transportation aim to reduce reliance on private vehicles and promote safe, low-carbon, and accessible modes of transportation for all.

It argues that creating safer streets and roads will address other health issues related to road traffic, air pollution, noise pollution, carbon emissions, and physical inactivity. 

“As streets become safer for all users, noise levels decrease, air pollution diminishes, and more people engage in active transport or public transit, leading to improved physical activity levels and reduced risks of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).”

 
 

The Brief is available to download 

 
Maolin Macatangay