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UN Decade of Action on Road Safety

Every six seconds someone is killed or maimed on the world's roads. This death and suffering is preventable.

To mark the launch of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety on 11th May 2011, Aberdeen Safer Community Trust, in partnership with Road Safety Grampian, will be holding a road safety roadshow event at the Castlegate where visitors will learn how “together we can save millions of lives.”

Designed to provide advice and information on the risks experienced by drivers, pedestrians and other road users, the event will use interactive activities to demonstrate the consequences of unsafe road behaviour and give simple advice on how to stay safe.

As part of the day’s event, people will be able to experience a ‘crash’ whilst wearing a seatbelt, test their brake reaction times and view a car crash on display. A fire engine and crew will also be available to talk about what they face when dealing with a road accident.

Commenting on the day’s event, chief executive of Aberdeen Safer Community Trust Emma Bellu said,

“Road crashes kill more people worldwide than malaria and are the leading global cause of death for children and young people up to the age of 18. Here in Grampian, we have one of the highest rates of road accidents per head of population in the whole of the UK. Our event aims to highlight the dangers that all road users face every day of their lives, whether pedestrians, drivers or cyclists, using interactive and fun activities.”

The event will be just one of thousands taking place globally to mark the launch of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety, a campaign aiming to stabilise and then reduce the forecast level of road traffic fatalities around the world by increasing activities conducted at the national, regional and global levels.

According to the campaign, leading road safety experts believe that, with the right action, up to 5 million lives could be saved and 50 million injuries prevented during the Decade of Action. This would represent a reduction of about 50% on the predicted global death toll by 2020.

The campaign has the support of UNICEF Ambassador, Ewan McGregor who says,

“I have seen how important it is that children and communities are educated about road safety and that governments and decision makers do what they can to make our roads safe.”

Emma Bellu added

“By taking part in a small way in such an important global campaign we hope we can make a difference to the safety of the people of Grampian on our roads. Road accidents can be prevented and it is our mission is to advance safety, stop accidents and save life.”

Anyone can take part free of charge by coming along to the Castlegate on Wednesday May 11th from 11am to 3pm.

More information can be found by contacting Aberdeen Safer Community Trust on 01224 646461 or by visiting their website at www.absafe.org.uk.