“I PROMISE: not to use the cellphone while driving; not to drink alcohol or take drugs while driving; to always wear a seatbelt; to maintain my car in roadworthy condition; to avoid being drawn into a road rage by aggressive drivers; to not throw garbage out of the car; and to obey road laws, rules and regulations.”
This is the Road Safety Pledge each one can make to help save 5-million lives in ten years.
More than 100 countries are launching the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 starting today, 11 May 2011. Spearheaded by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration, the decade-long campaign seeks to improve road safety measures worldwide and reduce travel-related accidents that kill 1.3-million people yearly around the world.
Studies show that road traffic injury is now the top cause of death for young people aged 15 to 29 worldwide. In the Philippines, data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) recorded 18,810 traffic accidents in 2010.
The Decade of Action for Road Safety was launched in the Philippines through kick-off rites at the Asian Development Bank. This was led by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) in collaboration with the Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership (PGRSP).