United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety Jean Todt is set to visit the Philippines on April 11 to 14 to advocate for the effective implementation of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030. Todt will meet with government officials, the private sector, the public sector, and non-governmental organization stakeholders in the country to discuss solutions on how to halve the number of victims on the road by 2030. “South-East Asia is one of the regions of the world most affected by road crashes,” the UN said in a press release. Road traffic injuries are a leading cause of fatalities and life-long disabilities in Asia, accounting for 58 percent of the world's 1.3 million road fatalities, it noted. “In addition to the human loss, road crashes draw the most vulnerable into a vicious cycle of poverty, from medical costs, material damage, loss of economic capacity, and mobilization,” it added. In 2019, the rate of road traffic death in the region decreased by 12 percent, but still remains high and efforts need to be made to protect vulnerable road users and countries. Southeast Asia has the second highest road traffic fatality rate, with Thailand and Malaysia being the most vulnerable countries. In Lao PDR, annual crashes rose by 35 percent between 2010 and 2020, and the number of fatalities increased by 67 percent. In the World Health Organization Global Status Report on Road Safety 2018, it was also revealed that there was an increasing trend in road traffic deaths in the Philippines, with a fatality rate of 12.3 per 100,000 population, compared to Europe's 9.3 per 100,000 population. “Southeast Asia faces a tragedy on the roads. However, solutions exist, combining policy enforcement and education. Simple gestures can also save lives, such as wearing a seatbelt or a helmet, not driving under influence, not texting while driving, or reducing speed,” said Todt. The UN noted that Asian countries have seen rapid motorization in recent years, particularly with motorized two to three-wheelers, adding this mode of transportation should be given special consideration as it accounts for 40 percent of all crash fatalities in South Asia. Thailand, meanwhile, has the highest rate of motorcycle-related deaths in the world, and motorcycle riders account for nearly 60 percent of all road traffic fatalities in Malaysia. Todt will also visit Lao PDR on April 5 to 7 April,  Thailand on April 10,  and Malaysia on April 17 to 19.