Road safety is a shared responsibility. Every person using the road should be aware of how to keep it a safe place.  On the other hand, each government agency with a function related to the roads should be attentive to their tasks that will keep the roads safe.
People need to be aware of that shared responsibility. Until today, despite the many years of road safety campaigns implemented by the United Nations, national governments and private organizations, road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, that has resulted in “around 1.3 million people killed and as many as 50 million people injured each year. For people aged 5-29 years, there is no greater threat to their lives. Globally, one of every four deaths occur among pedestrians and cyclists.”
In the local road scene, the figures reflect the need for road safety measures. The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded at least 1,499 deaths due to nearly 50,000 road accidents from January to April 11 this year.
Attention to road safety was highlighted last week with the visit of Jean Todt, the United Nation’s Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, and the former president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). He met with PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia to discuss ways to promote awareness of road safety issues and to reduce road accidents and fatalities.
The meeting is part of a program to promote the UN's Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 to reduce road deaths and injuries by 50 percent by 2030.
The global plan highlights the fact that road accidents can be prevented by addressing the whole of the transport system, taking action to ensure safe roads, vehicles and behaviors as well as to improve emergency care.
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) signed a partnership agreement in Manila on April 13 to enhance support for the road safety sector. The agreement, signed in the presence of Mr. Todt, aims to improve road infrastructure quality and reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on roads worldwide by implementing evidence-based tools and training.
Awareness on how each one can contribute to keeping the roads safe is an important element of road safety. Teaching responsibility should start with the young road users and continue through the many stages of schooling. Long-time road users should be made more aware of the laws that govern road safety and be responsible in following it.
At least two laws that would keep the roads safe are easy to follow – Republic Act 10586 or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013, and RA 10913 or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act of 2016.  Everyone knows those two laws by the popular slogans: “Don’t drink and drive,” and “Don’t text while driving.” Motorists who follow these two laws contribute to road safety.
Private organizations and government agencies who implement programs promoting road safety should continue to contribute to awareness.  In December 2019, the UNICEF and its partners implemented a Child Road Traffic Injury Prevention (CRTIP) program that developed models for child road traffic safety education programs.  In April 2022, the Land Transportation Office NCR East and the Department of Education Schools Division of Quezon City signed a memorandum of understanding that resulted in integrating basic road safety and comprehensive driver’s education in the enhanced curriculum program.
If the community steps up its efforts to promote road safety awareness, and with government support through well-designed and maintained roads, and strict enforcement of traffic laws, the aim of reducing deaths and injuries caused by traffic accidents by 50 percent in 2030 can be achieved.