13주차｜교통과 도심_임정은_APUF8-Urban Road Safety in Asia and the Pacific

[임정은]

WK13_교통도심: APUF8-Urban Road Safety in Asia and the Pacific

[편집본]

Date: 23 October 2023

Speaker: Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana

word count: 333

Glossary:

1. Action for Road Safety: 도로안전을 위한 행동
2. Sustainable Development Goals 3.6 and 11.2: 지속가능발전목표 3.6 및 11.2
3. the Regional Action Programme for Sustainable Transport Development (2022–2026): 지속가능한 교통개발을 위한 지역 행동 프로그램(2022–2026)
4. The Regional Plan of Action for the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety: 도로안전을 위한 행동 2차 10개년 계획의 지역 실행계획
5. ESCAP: 아시아태평양경제사회위원회
6. the United Nations Road Safety Fund: 유엔 도로안전기금
7. UN-Habitat: 유엔 인간정주계획
8. UNEP: 유엔환경계획

[script]

Excellencies, distinguished participants, ladies and gentlemen,

Road safety remains one of the most pressing development challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region.

Every year, more than 700,000 people lose their lives on roads across the region, with many of these fatalities occurring in densely populated urban areas.

Rapid urbanization, increasing traffic density and the coexistence of different modes of transport have made road safety an urgent concern for our cities.

Pedestrians, cyclists and motorized two-wheeler users remain especially vulnerable on busy urban streets.

Although road traffic fatalities declined by 12 percent between 2016 and 2019, the first Decade of Action for Road Safety ended with unfinished business.

In response, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2021–2030 as the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety, aiming to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50 percent by 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Goals 3.6 and 11.2.

In this new decade, urban road safety has become a central priority.

Safer cities require better road infrastructure, improved public transport systems and stronger protection for vulnerable road users. Reflecting this commitment, ministers in the Asia-Pacific region adopted the Regional Action Programme for Sustainable Transport Development (2022–2026), identifying road safety as a key thematic area.

The Regional Plan of Action for the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety also seeks to reduce the human and economic costs caused by road crashes.

ESCAP continues to work closely with member States to advance road safety initiatives.

Through the United Nations Road Safety Fund, projects have been launched to improve motorcycle safety in Southeast Asia, strengthen infrastructure safety in North and Central Asia and enhance institutional capacities in South and South-West Asia. ESCAP has also launched a new project on sustainable and low-emission urban mobility planning in partnership with UN-Habitat and UNEP.

At this critical moment, we must strengthen our commitment to building safer and more sustainable cities for all.

Together, we can save lives and create safer roads for future generations.

Thank you very much.