ECONOMYNEXT – Street accident fatalities at the moment are the second main reason behind demise in Sri Lanka, UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche has stated, calling for decisive motion to make the nation’s roads safer.
“Enhancing street security shouldn’t be solely a well being and improvement crucial – it is usually central to reaching the Sustainable Growth Targets,” Franche stated in his message for UN International Street Security Week 2025.
“Safer roads will assist construct a Sri Lanka the place individuals can journey with out concern, the place households are protected, and the place weak teams, together with youngsters, can transfer safely via their communities.”
A Nationwide Street Security Plan is a important step ahead in bettering driver behaviour, strengthening legislation enforcement, and enhancing street security infrastructure, he stated.
“As we mark UN International Street Security Week, allow us to decide to safer roads, safer automobiles, and safer behaviours. Each life misplaced on our roads is one too many.”
The complete assertion is reproduced under:
Assertion by the UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka for UN International Street Security Week 2025
16 Could 2025
On the eighth UN International Street Security Week, the UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka requires pressing, collective motion to make the nation’s roads safer for all.
Yearly, street visitors accidents declare the lives of practically 1.2 million individuals globally and injure as many as 50 million extra. Street visitors accidents at the moment are the main reason behind demise for youngsters and younger adults aged 5 to 29 years. But, these tragedies are largely preventable.
In Sri Lanka, the scenario is equally alarming. Street accident fatalities at the moment are the second main reason behind demise within the nation, with 2,557 lives misplaced in 2023 alone. From January to October 2024, there have been already 1,898 fatalities from over 1,800 deadly accidents. Susceptible street customers – pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists – bear the best burden.
The latest devastating bus accident close to Kotmale on 11 Could 2025, which claimed 23 lives and injured many extra, is a tragic reminder of the pressing want for decisive motion. Components resembling driver fatigue, automobile situations, and unsafe infrastructure proceed to pose vital dangers to all street customers, particularly on winding roads within the central highlands.
Recognizing the pressing want for complete interventions, the Authorities of Sri Lanka has introduced a Nationwide Street Security Plan beneath the “Clear Sri Lanka” programme. This can be a important step ahead in bettering driver behaviour, strengthening legislation enforcement, and enhancing street security infrastructure.
The United Nations stays dedicated to supporting Sri Lanka’s efforts to scale back street visitors accidents and fatalities. By way of world initiatives just like the UN Decade of Motion for Street Security, the world has set an formidable goal to halve street visitors deaths and accidents by 2030, offering a transparent framework for coordinated, evidence-based interventions at nationwide and native ranges.
In Sri Lanka, the World Well being Group has been working intently with nationwide counterparts to strengthen street security information programs, promote safer infrastructure, and advocate for efficient insurance policies and enforcement. UNICEF is supporting efforts to guard probably the most weak, together with integrating street security schooling into faculties and selling child-friendly city design to scale back dangers for youngsters and adolescents.
Enhancing street security shouldn’t be solely a well being and improvement crucial – it is usually central to reaching the Sustainable Growth Targets. Safer roads will assist construct a Sri Lanka the place individuals can journey with out concern, the place households are protected, and the place weak teams, together with youngsters, can transfer safely via their communities.
As we mark UN International Street Security Week, allow us to decide to safer roads, safer automobiles, and safer behaviours. Each life misplaced on our roads is one too many. (Colombo/May16/2025)
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