It’s Global Road Safety Week 2019!

This is a logo for theMay 6 marks the start of the Fifth United Nations (UN) Global Road Safety Week. The week is recognized biannually and emphasizes themes around road safety. This year’s theme is Leadership and has the goal of inspiring both the general public and stakeholders in leadership positions to take action in promoting road safety initiatives.

The World Health Organization estimates that 1.35 million road traffic deaths occur each year, with more than half of these fatalities being pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. More than 100 people die and more than 8,400 are injured each day in crashes in the United States alone.

To become a leader yourself in promoting how important awareness and action are in reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities, go to the UN’s Get Involved page, where you can download a toolkit and join a global chorus of voices helping to improve road traffic safety. Using social media is one of the best ways to spread the word, and here are some simple steps for doing that via posting and sharing your #Safies (safety selfie).

  • Download a signboard, cut it out, and make a handle.
  • Write a message or safety concern.
  • Take a photo or #Safie at the location where you’ve faced a road safety risk. (Do not take any photos that would put you in an unsafe situation.)
  • Share it on social media with #SpeakUp and #Safie.

Remember, when it comes to traffic safety, there are no followers—only leaders in the fight to keep us all safe on our roadways.


Thanks to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for some of the information in this announcement.