Statement from the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety (the Alliance) on the Launch of the Decade of Action for Sustainable Transport

The Alliance welcomes the Decade of Action for Sustainable Transport and its Implementation Plan for the Decade of Action for Sustainable Transport (the Plan) as a critical framework to advance equitable, safe, and sustainable mobility for all. We commend the Plan for recognizing the challenges of urban design and for prioritizing safe public transport and safe conditions for pedestrians and cyclists as key enablers of connectivity whose shortcomings continue to compromise accessibility, health, and safety in cities worldwide.

Every year, road crashes claim more than 1.19 million lives and 20-50 million more are injured. Low- and middle-income countries are bearing the greatest burden. The consequences are most severe for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users — those least responsible for unsafe conditions but most exposed to risks. Addressing these preventable deaths and injuries is central to achieving sustainable transport and the broader Sustainable Development Goals.

Hence, we welcome the promotion of walking, cycling, and high-quality public transport as core modes of travel. These modes not only enhance safety and affordability, but also deliver co-benefits of cleaner air, reduced emissions, better health, and social inclusion. We also applaud the Plan’s strong emphasis on the Safe System approach and solutions that are evidence-based. In line with Safe System principles and the Alliance’s strategic vision, we join the call for shared responsibility among planners, designers, decision-makers, and funders, ensuring that those who shape the system are accountable for delivering safe, sustainable, and equitable mobility for all.

We urge that the implementation of the Plan translates these principles into actionable, measurable, and well-funded commitments. Specifically, we see opportunities in the following areas:

• Investment frameworks should explicitly include safety criteria, ensuring that funds for road and transport projects do not perpetuate unsafe or car-centric systems. They should ensure that references to informal services prioritize safe, affordable and reliable mobility options rather than unintentionally encouraging unsafe mobility options.
• Civil society must be meaningfully engaged at all stages — from planning and implementation, to monitoring and progress tracking — to ensure that local realities and lived experiences inform sustainable transport policies and initiatives.
• Integration with the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030 should be made more explicit, with clearly defined mechanisms for coordination and shared accountability and transparent reporting among governments, private sector, development partners and civil society representatives.

The Alliance and its 400 members in 100 countries stand ready to collaborate with governments, UN agencies, and partners to ensure that road safety remains at the heart of sustainable transport action. The Alliance commits to strengthen and mobilize a vibrant civil society movement through strategic network-building, capacity development, and advocacy and accountability, to make safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable mobility a reality for all. Sustainable transport cannot be achieved unless it is safe — for every person, in every community.

The Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety (the Alliance) represents more than 400 member NGOs working in road safety and safe mobility from 100-plus countries around the world. The Alliance is a registered nonprofit organization and is the platform for NGOs worldwide to share knowledge and collectively advocate for road safety and the rights of victims of road traffic crashes. The Alliance provides services to its members in three key areas: 1) a strong network 2) advocacy and accountability, and 3) capacity building.