In July 2024, the United Nations General Assembly passed a key resolution reaffirming the global commitment to road safety, placing particular emphasis on the protection of pedestrians, who are considered the most vulnerable road users. This World Pedestrian Day, commemorated every August 17th, is a crucial opportunity to reflect on the challenges faced by pedestrians around the world and to redouble efforts to promote safer and more accessible environments for them.
The Vulnerability of Pedestrians in the Global and National Context.
The July 2024 resolution highlights that, worldwide, pedestrians represent a significant proportion of fatalities in traffic events. According to the most recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO), pedestrians account for 23% of all road deaths. These numbers are alarming and demonstrate the urgency of implementing effective measures that protect them and reduce the risks they face in their daily lives.
In Mexico, the situation is alarming. 36% of all traffic-related fatalities are pedestrians, reflecting a crisis in road safety that needs urgent attention.
According to preliminary data for 2023 published by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI, for its acronym in Spanish), 6,020 pedestrian deaths were recorded in traffic accidents, which means that every day, 16 people lose their lives from being run over on our streets and highways. This increase is part of a worrying trend: between 2020 and 2023, pedestrian fatalities increased by 19%, underscoring the need to implement effective measures to protect the most vulnerable with speed management being the most important.
The UN resolution calls on Member States to adopt comprehensive road safety policies that prioritize the protection of pedestrians. These policies should include the creation of safe, accessible, well-marked pedestrian infrastructure, adequate lighting, and the reduction of speed in densely populated urban areas. Furthermore, the need for awareness campaigns that promote respect for pedestrian rights among drivers and society in general is highlighted.
World Pedestrian Day: A Call to Action
The origin of this date dates back to a tragic incident that occurred in 1897 in London. Bridget Driscoll, a London woman, became the first recorded fatality in a traffic accident. Her death marked a turning point and, decades later, the World Health Organization chose August 17 to commemorate International Pedestrian Day.
The relevance of this day is magnified when we look at the shocking global figures. Every 23 seconds, a life is lost due to a traffic event in the world. This equates to approximately 1.19 million lives annually, with between 20 and 50 million people facing non-fatal injuries, many of which result in disabilities. Accidents on the roads are one of the main causes of mortality among young people between 5 and 29 years old.
Pedestrians occupy an essential place in the Mobility Pyramid, being the most vulnerable group. Together with cyclists, they represent 26% of deaths related to road accidents worldwide.
In our cities, millions of people walk daily as their main means of transportation. For example, in the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico, more than five million trips on foot are made every day, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography.
World Pedestrian Day, instituted by the UN, is not only a day of commemoration, but a call to action for governments, non-governmental organizations, and citizens. Urges all countries to use this date to promote initiatives that strengthen pedestrian safety.
Shared Responsibility for a Safer Future
The latest UN resolution emphasizes that road safety is a shared responsibility that requires the collaboration of multiple actors, including governments, civil society, the private sector, and the international community. In particular, there is a call for the creation of alliances between the public and private sectors to develop innovative solutions that improve pedestrian safety.
Recognition of pedestrians as vulnerable road users is a critical step toward creating safer and more equitable urban environments. In this sense, the July 2024 UN resolution is a powerful reminder that, in the pursuit of a safer future, the protection of pedestrians must be a priority on the global road safety agenda. World Pedestrian Day is an opportunity to renew our commitment to this cause and work together to ensure that all road users, especially the most vulnerable, can travel in safety and dignity.
Seguridad Vial Somos Todos
