SDG 3 policy brief: advocating for safety and well-being
written by steffel ludivin feudjio tezong, reem el sherbiny, and mohamed eissa
Road safety, characterized by efforts to mitigate the risk of road traffic injuries and fatalities, stands as a critical global health concern. Unsafe and environmentally harmful transportation systems not only pose threats to lives but also have profound impacts on physical and mental health. This is evidenced by the fact that road traffic injuries stand as the primary cause of death among youth globally.
The integrated action areas of the Safe System Approach not only enhance safety for transportation networks but also contribute 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. These actions complement traditional road safety strategies and have broader implications beyond saving lives from road traffic crashes.
By creating safer streets and roads, these measures also 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).
key data oN HEALTH AND WELL BEING
KEY MESSAGES OF THE POLICY BRIEF
Government and Policymakers should promote;
Comprehensive Strengthening of Health Care Systems: prioritise the comprehensive strengthening of health care systems to enhance prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation for road traffic injuries effectively. This entails investing in infrastructure, workforce training, equipment, and resources necessary for delivering quality care to injured individuals.
City-Level Policies Promoting Active Mobility: develop and implement city-level policies and initiatives that encourage active mobility among children. This could include initiatives where car usage is restricted in certain areas to promote walking and cycling.
Development of Robust National Action Plans: develop holistic national action plans with funding for road safety aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly related to climate action and sustainable cities, and the Decade of Action on Road Safety 2021–2030. These plans should actively involve youth in decision-making processes and actions, ensuring their perspectives are integrated into policy development and implementation.
Integrated Urban Planning for Safe Mobility: invest integrated urban planning approaches that prioritise safe and sustainable mobility. This includes designing cities with safe infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users, while also designing travel demand management initiatives and incorporating features for speed reduction, such as traffic calming measures.
Stringent Enforcement of Road Safety Laws: implement and enforce stringent road safety laws and regulations, focusing on critical aspects such as drink-driving, seat-belt usage, speed limits, helmet wearing, and child restraints.
Prioritisation of Healthcare Professional Training and Trauma Care: prioritise the education and training of healthcare professionals in trauma care, integrating trauma and emergency training into medical school curricula and internships immediately after graduation.
Meaningful Youth Participation: decision-makers should ensure meaningful youth participation in health policies and road safety initiatives. This involves actively involving young people in decision-making processes, programme development, and implementation strategies.
Multilateral Agencies and Civil Society Organisations should promote;
Comprehensive Technical Assistance: provide comprehensive technical assistance to national and global governmental, non-governmental, and youth-led organisations to effectively implement the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030. This assistance should include capacity-building activities, sharing best practices, and facilitating knowledge exchange to ensure the successful implementation of road safety initiatives at all levels.
Advocacy for Evidence-Based Road Safety Policies: encourage the formulation and implementation of evidence-based road safety policies by supporting governments who have the capacity to implement quality data management systems, to sustain progress in reducing road traffic injuries.
Targeted Awareness Initiatives: launch targeted initiatives aimed at increasing awareness of road safety measures among the general population and other relevant target groups, with a specific focus on vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists to promote safe behaviours on the roads.
Facilitation of Collaboration between Hospitals: facilitate collaboration between hospitals in high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through WHO initiatives. By enhancing education, training, and research in trauma management, such collaborations can improve healthcare outcomes for road traffic injury victims worldwide. This could involve knowledge sharing, exchange programmes, and joint research projects to strengthen trauma care capacity in LMICs.
Psychological Support for Road Injury Victims: address the pressing need for psychological support for road injury victims by urging policymakers to enhance access to mental health services through integrating mental health services into post-crash response protocols and providing training for healthcare professionals on trauma-informed care.
Analysis of Determinants of Health and Road Safety: conduct thorough analyses to identify and understand the complex interlinkages between social, economic, and environmental determinants of health with road safety and road traffic injuries. This could involve multidisciplinary rese
Young individuals and youth-led organisations should promote :
Skill Strengthening Initiatives: young individuals and youth-led organisations should strengthen the skills and expertise of youth in road safety by implementing targeted initiatives. These initiatives should focus on bolstering their understanding and proficiency in all aspects of road safety practices and principles, including safe road behaviours, advocacy strategies, and data analysis techniques.
Research Generation and Utilisation: they should foster the generation and utilisation of research findings related to road safety. Additionally, they should provide support for networking advocacy campaigns to promote road safety awareness and action.
Strategic Partnerships: young individuals and youth-led organisations should forge strategic partnerships with both governmental and non-governmental entities. Collaborative efforts should be focused on designing, implementing, and assessing road safety policies at local, national, regional, and international levels.
Utilisation of Social Media and Mobile Applications: they should harness the power of social media platforms and mobile applications to facilitate data collection, establish trauma registries, and enhance communication channels. Particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where resources may be limited, these digital tools can amplify efforts to improve road safety outcomes and response mechanisms.
