VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Traffic-related fatalities each year exceed 1.2 million worldwide and vulnerable road users—pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists—account for 50% of the total. Traffic-related injuries and fatalities represent the ninth leading cause of death or injury worldwide. Left unchecked, the expected doubling of vehicles globally will make traffic-related deaths and injuries the fifth leading cause by 2030. Significant, intentional and effective intervention by the public, private and civil society sectors is needed to slow the pace of pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
In response to the risks to pedestrians worldwide, the World Health Organization has designated May 6-12 as Global Road Safety Week, focused on pedestrian safety. NETS supports this campaign and encourages all employers to participate in promoting pedestrian safety to employees, employees’ families and within the communities where the employees live and work.
“We are all pedestrians. When you think about it, every trip begins and ends on foot whether we drive, cycle or walk to our destinations,” said Sandra Lee, Director, Worldwide Fleet Safety, for Johnson & Johnson and NETS Chairperson. “There is no single measure to adequately address the range of risks to pedestrians across various settings. However, we can all play a role day to day. For example, Driving at safe speeds when we’re the driver or staying focused on our environment and increasing our visibility to others when we’re on foot are concrete actions that we can take to promote pedestrian safety. It’s my hope that all employers recognize the importance of pedestrian safety and participate in Global Road Safety Week.”
Visit the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration’s website for more information from the World Health Organization on Global Road Safety Week and for a tool kit for engaging employees, employees’ families and the communities where the employees live and work.
About NETS
NETS is a 501(c)3 organization, a partnership between the U.S. Federal government and the private sector. The Board of Directors members include Abbott, AmeriFleet Transportation, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, The Coca-Cola Company, Johnson & Johnson, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, Monsanto Company, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Group, Shell International Petroleum Company and UPS, as well as federal liaisons from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Established in 1989, NETS is dedicated to improving the safety of employees, their families, and members of the communities in which they live and work by preventing traffic crashes that occur on and off the job. For more information on NETS, visit www.trafficsafety.org or contact jhanley@trafficsafety.org.
