23 April 2007
Tony Blair has lent his support to a campaign to cut the number of deaths and injuries caused around the world by traffic accidents.
Each year road traffic crashes kill 1.2 million people, including 1000 young people a day. In the UK, 70 children are killed or seriously injured every week.
It is the leading cause of death in many countries for young people aged 10-24 and has a devastating effect on families and communities.
The United Nations is holding an awareness week to promote ways of cutting road deaths such as the use of helmets, seat belts. It will also focus on the main cause of traffic accidents, such as speeding and drink-driving.
In a recorded message of support for the awareness week, Mr Blair said:
“Every minute of every day a child is killed or seriously injured on the world’s roads. Road crashes are the second leading cause of death for young men after HIV/Aids, and in some African countries more than 70 per cent of those killed on the roads are young breadwinners.
“It is becoming clear that road injury has a serious impact on the wider development goals we are all trying to achieve. So I commend the proposal that the UN should organise a global ministerial meeting on road safety.”
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