The UK Government Minister for Road Safety, Dr Stephen Ladyman, was guest speaker at the official dinner of the 3rd United Nations Road Safety Collaboration, hosted by the FIA Foundation at The Royal Automobile Club on Monday 14th November.
Speaking at the end of the first day of the two day meeting of the Road Safety Collaboration, Dr Ladyman stressed the importance of the work of the Collaboration and the need to take action to improve global road safety. He highlighted this by repeating the prediction that “by 2020, road accidents could overtake HIV and tuberculosis to rank third in the causes of premature death and disability around the world.” He told his audience that currently every year well over 1 million people die in road crashes worldwide and up to 50 million are injured or disabled.
The Minister went on to praise the work of the FIA Foundation and its partners in road safety, including the World Health Organisation, World Bank and Global Road Safety Partnership. Dr Ladyman said, “sharing solutions around the world is vital. Only by working in partnership – both domestically and internationally - can we make roads safer for everyone.”
He applauded the work of the FIA Foundation for its role in raising the awareness of the global road safety problem. He praised the efforts of the Foundation and the members of the UN Road Safety Collaboration who have galvanised action on the issue.
Closing his speech the Minister reminded his audience of the work that is still to be done. He said, “On average just while we sit here tonight enjoying ourselves another person will have died on the roads of the UK and about 20 will have died around the world”.
Download Dr Stephen Ladyman’s speech here >