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The IAM is calling on governments from around the world, who are meeting in Moscow at the first ever Global Ministerial Summit on Road Safety today (19 November), to agree plans for a Decade of Action which would save five million lives on the world’s roads.

Road crashes are a growing epidemic and are set to become the number one world killer of children aged 5-14 by 2015.

The goal of the Decade of Action is for governments to collectively commit to reducing the forecast 2020 level of road deaths by 50 per cent, from 1.9 million to below one million a year. This involves a ten point plan combining political commitment, international donor support for infrastructure development, and sustained national prioritisation of road safety. These measures taken together could avoid five million deaths and fifty million serious injuries over the decade.

Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research at the IAM said:

“Along with Ministers from around the world, the UK government must take the opportunity to turn the corner on road safety. The stakes are high. If we do not act, millions will die or be injured on the world’s roads. Road safety has been a major success in the UK and we have much to pass on to other countries as they seek safer roads, safer vehicles and safer drivers. The Decade of Action is crucial – we will achieve nothing if we do not work together.”

FIA President Jean Todt said:

“Five million lives are at stake in the coming decade. We know what needs to be done to save these lives. The international community must demonstrate their political will to succeed, and make this ministerial meeting a turning point for global road safety.”

The IAM is working with other motoring clubs and organisations to share best practice in driver and rider training. Road crashes already kill on a similar scale to Malaria or Tuberculosis and they are forecast to increase dramatically unless action is taken:

• By 2030, the projected number of deaths on the world’s roads will be roughly double the current level.
• Around 1.3 million people will be killed on the world’s roads this year. Over 90 per cent of these fatalities occur in the world’s poorest countries;
• Road traffic fatalities are the single biggest source of death among 15-19 year olds in
developing countries and the second leading cause among 5-14 year olds.