Kathmandu, May 8

The fourth United Nations Global Road Safety Week was inaugurated formally in Kathmandu today.

The UN, Nepal Police, Transportation Management Department, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Rotary Club and Road Safety Society Nepal, among others stakeholders, participated in a rally in Maitighar during the inauguration.

Speaking at the programme, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Secretary Bhim Bahadur Tamang stressed on effective implementation of law regarding safety of pedestrians and drivers both, and minimising accidents.

Inspector General of Nepal Police Prakash Aryal said high speed was responsible for accidents in Nepal in recent days. He thanked all for the positive response, help and support during public road safety activities.

The fourth United Nations Global Road Safety Week in Nepal will be observed up to May 14 across the country by organising a number of awareness programmes. Requested by the United Nations General Assembly, the 4th United Nations Global Road Safety Week will be celebrated from May 8 to 14 this year.

This Week will focus on speed management and what can be done to address this key risk factor for road traffic deaths and injuries. Thus, the slogan for the ongoing campaign is: Save Lives – Slow Down.

The Slow Down campaign seeks to increase understanding of the dangers of speed and generates action on measures to address speed issues, thereby saving lives on the roads. It also calls for urgent action revolving around speed management to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50 per cent by 2020; the target established in the Global Goals for Sustainable Development for the next 15 years (2030).

On 11 May 2011, dozens of countries around the world kicked off the first global Decade of Action. From New Zealand to Mexico and the Russian Federation to South Africa, governments committed to take new steps to save lives on their roads. The Decade of Action seeks to prevent road traffic deaths and injuries, which experts project will take the lives of 1.9 million people annually by 2020.

The United Nations Global Road Safety Week and its campaigns are coordinated by the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration, chaired by the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.