Transport advocacy group Move As One Coalition has joined the global community in pushing for a 30-kilometer per hour (kph) speed limit on urban roads.
The call--aimed at reducing air pollution, fighting climate change, and saving lives--was made in line with the ongoing celebration of the sixth United Nations Global Road Safety Week, which runs from from May 17 to 23. The theme for the celebration is, "Streets for Life: #Love30."
In particular, the coalition asked policy-makers to follow the "low-speed streets" trend in cities worldwide and help implement a speed limit of 30 kph where people live, work, and play.
"Low-speed streets are safe, healthy, green, and livable — in other words, 'Streets for Life'," Robert Y. Siy, Move As One Coalition convenor, said.
The group noted how high-speed vehicles are more prone to road crashes, which could end up affecting other road users such as pedestrians, and bicycle and motorcycle riders.
"As vehicle speed increases, so does the likelihood of a road crash. If a crash does happen, the risk of death and serious injury is greater at higher speeds, especially for people who walk and ride bicycles and motorcycles," the group said.
According to the coalition, at least 34 people in the Philippines die in a road crash every day. These deaths shatter lives, tip families into poverty, burden the public health system, and drain 2.6 percent from the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), it added.
With this, Move As One urged all road users to echo their call for the lowering of urban speed limits to "save countless lives".
"It will protect young and old Filipinos as they move around our cities. It will attract more people to walking and cycling and reduce our dependence on motor vehicles. It will give us cleaner air and help us fight climate change," Siy explained.