I would like to thank President Medvedev of the Russian Federation, as well as his government and officials, for hosting us here in Moscow.
On behalf of the World Bank Group, I’d also like to thank you, Mr. Chairman – General Kiryanov – for the opportunity to address this important conference.
And, I would like to acknowledge our partners sharing this platform to open the conference.
Sergei Ordzhonikidze, from the United Nations
Dr. Anarfi Asamoa-Baah, from the World Health Organization
Steven Alan from UNICEF
Jan Kubis, from UNECE and the UN Economic Commissions,
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, from the Commission for Global Road Safety
Casey Marenge, representing road crash victims
Floor Lieshout representing youth NGOs, and
Will Smith, actor.
We are here today not only as representatives of our organizations, but also as individual citizens who have lost colleagues, friends, and family in road accidents.
At the World Bank, an organization of about 10,000 staff, two of our colleagues are killed each year on the roads of those countries where we work. Several more are involved in road crashes.
We are far from alone. Around the world, 12 people die every five minutes on the roads and at least another 120 are hospitalized, or in need of hospitalization.
These are shocking statistics, and they justify why we are here today.
This conference has the potential to become the turning point. With determination and commitment, a few years from now we will be able to look back and say “Yes, it all started in Moscow. The decisions we made in Moscow helped save millions of lives and prevented many more millions of injuries … that’s what we achieved!”
We know that, with the right momentum, things can be turned around:
We have seen high-income countries steadily reduce their fatality rates per capita over the past 30 years (with the leading countries like Sweden, the United Kingdom and The Netherlands getting down to 5 deaths per 100,000, and going lower).
We have seen successful preventive measures in low-income countries such as Vietnam. Vietnam introduced comprehensive helmet legislation, and police enforcement of the law, in 2007. As a result, more than 90% of adults on motorcycles now wear helmets, and there has been a 16% reduction in head injuries from road accidents.
These successes, however, are few and far between. Which is why many experts say a road safety crisis is coming. Steady urbanization of countries a nd rapid growth of infrastructure triggers soaring demand for vehicles, which in turn leads to more and more deaths and injuries.
We therefore have to act now to avoid such a spiraling crisis in the future.
Road safety is a shared responsibility … high-income countries, NGOs, the private sector, the donor community, and low and middle-income countries all have an important role to play.
We too at the World Bank are determined to focus and quickly move with a set of priority actions:
We are implementing our new transport sector business strategy: Safe, Clean and Affordable Transport for Development, and our health sector business strategy, Healthy Development: The World Bank Strategy for Health, Nutrition & Population Results
We are strengthening the capacity of our global, regional, and country partners through the funding activities of the Global Road Safety Facility
We are working with our colleagues in the multi-lateral development banks, and with our member countries, to build a shared approach to road safety management
We are engaging with the donor and development community to create sustainable sources of grant funding and innovative financing mechanisms. These are essential to support the road safety measures needed over the coming decade.
Is this enough? Almost certainly not. Which is why we are here today – to work with you. To see how we all can do more to prevent the coming road safety crisis.
To conclude then…. our Russian hosts and distinguished panelists, Ministers, country officials, and all our partners and stakeholders in this room today…we have reached a crucial turning point in the mission we have all been engaged in.
We must seize this opportunity to make decisions and commitments that will benefit millions of people and families who otherwise will suffer the devastating and lasting impacts of road deaths and injuries. We cannot let them down.
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