General Assembly: 104th Plenary meeting, 80th session

Good afternoon. The 104th Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly is called to order. I declare open the high-level meeting of the Assembly on Improving Global Road Safety under the overall theme of scaling up and accelerating implementation of commitments to halving road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. This meeting is held in accordance with Resolution 80/247 of March 10th, 2026, And takes place under Agenda Item 12 entitled Improving Global Road Safety. The documentation under this item is listed in the Journal of the United Nations. I will now make a statement as the President of the General Assembly. Welcome to this high-level meeting of the General Assembly on Global Road Safety. Obviously, since you're here, it means that each of you had to navigate the streets of Manhattan to reach First Avenue. Whether you came by car, by bike, or simply walked, you were nonetheless part of the complex choreography of New York's traffic system. And while I'm sure, or at least I hope, you were paying attention to your surroundings, it is reassuring for each of us that the system required to keep that environment operating smoothly and safely are in place. We trust that there are rules and standards, laws and policy that make navigation roads possible, whether here in New York, in New Delhi, or in Nigeria. Most of the time we barely think about those systems. We simply assume that They will work. Traffic lights turning from red to green, sometimes in between yellow in some parts of the world. But while most journeys end safely, far too many do not. When I was a child, I personally remember my mother telling me about her sister. My aunt had died. It had been raining and she ran to the store to buy a ruler. She was hit by a tram when she was still a child. She died before I was born, so I never mourned her personally. But the legacy of that loss lingered. It shaped my grandparents, it shaped my mother, and it became one of those stories parents tell all their children, hoping they might take just a little more care when they just go out to buy a ruler. I forgot about this story, but I thought about that just last month here next to the General Assembly during our multi-stakeholder hearing on road safety, because one of the participants Ms. Vivian Perón, spoke about exactly this mourning and this situation for her own family, about losing her child, her son Kevin, 24 years ago in Argentina, but still feeling it till that day. She described what she called the never-ending ripples of devastation and how she continues to carry his agonizing absence in her heart. Listening to her, I think all of us who were in the room, we were reminded that while every road fatality is recorded as a statistic, every single one leaves behind a family like us whose lives are never quite the same again. And I know some of you may nevertheless be asking, well, why is this the United Nations' focus on road safety? Aren't there wars that need to be addressed? Is this really a priority of the United Nations? And frankly speaking, this question is understandable, and this is why we have to speak about it, because peace and security is for sure one of our most essential pillars. But it is not the only one. If we look back to the Charter as we did a couple of weeks ago, our responsibility is also to protect lives on a daily basis, to protect health and to promote well-being. And the stark reality, as highlighted by the Special Envoy, is that road traffic crashes have become A silent pandemic. Every year, more than 1.2 million people are killed on our roads just doing daily life, and another 50 million are injured. Think about these numbers. That is more than the number killed in direct conflict. That is more than the number of people murdered, more than the number who die from malaria. That means every 24 seconds another person loses their life on or because of the roads and highways. So since I began speaking, at least half a dozen more families like Vivian's have received news that will change their lives forever. The tragedy is not simply the scale of these losses. The tragedy is also the fact that different than other deadly global challenges, so many of them are entirely preventable. Therefore, it is so important to raise road safety also right here in this hall. Especially where, for once, we are dealing with an issue far from contentious. As for all the issues we discuss in this hall and for all the divisions that can sometimes arise, I guess nobody is against the desire to keep our families, the ones we love, safe while going to work or to school. As I also suspect, there are very few people in this hall who have not been touched by a similar story, by this silent pandemic, as Ms. Vivian Perrone. Whether it was a family member, a friend, or a neighbor, most of us know someone whose life changed forever because the journey that should have ended safely did not. And none of, none of us wants our children playing beside dangerous roads. None of us wants to drive cars that fail basic safety standards. None of us wants to see pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists suffer because of their poor infrastructure or preventable negligence. And none of us, speaking as a woman, understands why airbags, who are supposed to protect our bodies, are designed for men, so they're actually hurting women. many of the female drivers in a car crash. So this progress declaration before us, shepherded by our esteemed co-facilitators, Ambassador Aida Kazymalievaya of Kyrgyzstan and Ambassador Peter Olenyi of Slovakia, offers practical recommendations that can make a real difference. It calls for stronger national leadership on road safety in their own sovereignty, but in the understanding of being better together. Better by collecting data and use data together. Better in securing safer roads and vehicles. Improved post-crash response. And greater investment in road safety education. There's nothing contentious about any of this. So, dear colleagues, distinguished representatives, let us capitalize on this moment of unity and this rare opportunity for consensus. Let us commit to this declaration and, more importantly, to delivering on its 48 recommendations, not only in this hall but out there, on 42nd Street, in New Delhi, or in Nigeria, in every city, big or small, in every community. Let us do it for ourselves and for those we love, for our children on their way to school, and for parents like Vivian Perrone who continue to carry the absence of a child every single day. I thank you. In accordance with Rule 70 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, I now give the floor to the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Road Safety, Mr. Jean Todt, to deliver remarks on behalf of the Secretary-General.

Thank you.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to thank the President of the General Assembly, Excellency Mrs. Annalena Baerbock, for convening this high-level meeting on road safety. I'm pleased to address you today on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General. 10 years ago, I warned this Assembly that road crashes were one of the great emergencies of our time, a silent pandemic. In 2016, one person lost their life on the road every 25 seconds. More than 90% of those deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries. We adopted an ambitious objective to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50%. Today, hardly anything has changed. Between 2010 and 2021, road deaths declined by only 5%. The verdict is clear: we are far off track. Resolutions have been adopted, Commitments have been made, declarations have been endorsed, but actions are still too poor. Between today and the end of this year, more than 84,000 children will be killed on the road. The global economy will lose another $1.6 trillion. None of this is inevitable. In my UN capacity, I've traveled to more than 100 countries. I visited hospitals filled with people whose lives have been changed forever by road crashes. I've spoken with grieving family members after they lost a child. They may not understand why their loved one was taken from them. We do. They are the consequences of not acting enough. 8 years ago, the American President Harry Truman reminded leaders that confronting road crashes required leadership and responsibility at every level of society. Unfortunately, we are still learning the same lessons today. We understand the risk— speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, distracted driving, and the failure to use proper helmets. Seatbelts, and child restraints. The solutions are equally clear: safer infrastructure, safer vehicles, lower speeds, stronger enforcement, better post-crash care. The challenge has never been knowing what to do. It has been finding the determination to do it. This year, we have passed the second midpoint of the second decade of action for road safety. We cannot afford to continue at our current pace. On the world's road, business as usual is a business of death. In the next 5 years, the number of motor vehicles worldwide is expected to increase nearly 25%, placing enormous pressure on transport systems already struggling with rapid urban growth. Without decisive action, we will face more congestion, worse pollution, greater inequality, and more preventable deaths. By 2050, nearly 17% of the world's population will live in cities. This demands a different vision for mobility, where roads are designed for people instead of vehicles, public transport is prioritized, and every child can travel safely to school, and every worker can return home safe. Governments have the primary responsibility. Today, road safety observatories do exist but are under-equipped. Every country should establish a lead road safety agency with the authority, resources, and political support to coordinate action across government. Governments must also know where lives are being lost. Strong national crash data systems are essential to identify risk, measure progress, and direct investment where they will have the greatest impact. Safe speed limits must be adopted and enforced, particularly around school and residential areas. National legislation should be aligned with United Nations road safety conventions and internationally agreed vehicle safety standards. Urban planners and engineers must ensure that safety is built into every road design. And as micromobility devices transform our cities, our policies and enforcement must evolve with them. We also need the private sector in the fight, not only by complying with the law, but by driving safety innovation. Companies should embed safety throughout their fleets, products, supply chains, and business practices. For example, every motorcycle should be sold with 2 UN-certified helmets. If cars come with seatbelts, motorcycles should come with helmets. We know that safe helmets can be produced for below $20. Far more of these helmets must be manufactured in markets where they are most needed. Every passenger car, wherever it is sold and operates, must meet universally agreed safety and inspection standards. No aircraft manufacturer will consider fitting aircraft with different safety features based on the market they serve. The same must apply to vehicles worldwide. We also need academia and civil society to continue generating evidence and demanding accountability. International organizations must advance global cooperation and help countries transform knowledge into action. And young people need to be at the center of our work because they pay the highest price. Road crashes continue to be the number one killer of people aged 5 to 29. That is completely unacceptable. We have the prescription and the vaccine, but too often we are still not using them. There are encouraging examples Some countries have significantly reduced fatality rates in just a few years. But for each of them, this was only achieved through making road safety a serious national priority. Those decisions have saved many lives. Across the UN system, progress is accelerating. Agencies throughout the UN family are recognizing the urgency of road crashes. The World Health Organization is improving fatality reporting and ensuring that road safety is internationally recognized as a public health and development priority. UNECE is providing clear guidance and regulation for AI and automation in transport as a global custodian for vehicle safety. The United Nations Road Safety Fund is helping governments turn commitments into results. Earlier today, the Road Safety Funds Partnership Pledging Conference brought together member states, UN agencies, and the private sector to increase support for the only UN pooled funding mechanism dedicated to road safety. These are encouraging actions, but they need to be matched by stronger political leadership and serious investment. Developed countries must extend greater support to those carrying the heaviest burden. And we must build more creative partnerships across sectors. In my office, the Special Envoy Group of Friends is a network of over 120 leaders from government, industry, international organizations, and celebrities committed to supporting global road safety. With the advertising company JCDecaux, we have developed the global campaign for road safety, which is present in nearly 80 countries and southern cities worldwide. The ambition of our partnerships must match the scale of the problem. Over the next 2 days, I look forward to hearing say your new commitments, but commitments alone are not enough. The crisis will end when our actions demonstrate that the loss of young life is not an acceptable cost of living in a modern world. 78 years ago, this Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 3 stipulates that everyone has a right to life, liberty, and security of person. Safe mobility is not only an issue of transport or healthy policy. It is a question of whether we choose to uphold our most fundamental rights. Together, we can finally address the silent pandemic on our roads for all people because every delay costs too many lives. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Road Safety. I now give the floor to His Excellency Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of the Economic and Social Council.

President of the General Assembly, Secretary-General, Special Envoy for Road Safety, Director-General of WHO, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to join you today for this high-level meeting on road safety. Excellencies, road safety is often discussed as a transport issue. It is of course that, but it is much more than that. Clearly, it is a development issue, it is a public health issue, on social justice issues, and climate issues. Ultimately, it is about implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in ways that improve people's lives. This meeting comes just days after the conclusion of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, where Member States examined how to accelerate The implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 11. The review of SDG 11 reaffirmed that transport cannot be considered in isolation. It must be planned alongside housing, land use, and public space if cities are to become more inclusive, more resilient, Road safety illustrates this well. It is shaped not only by how we design our cities and mobility systems, but by the choices we make about how people move safely through them. Road safety also illustrates the value of the ECOSOC mandate. Our role is to bring together the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Transport decisions have consequences far beyond the transport sector. They shape public health, they shape urban development, economic opportunities, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion. They therefore require coordinated actions across sectors. As we have heard, every year more than 1.2 million people lose their lives on the roads, with the overwhelming majority occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Millions suffer— more suffer life-changing injuries. We all know that behind every statistic is a human story, a person's, a family's, a community's, whose future is forever altered. 8. These tragedies are not inevitable. They are preventable. Transport may not have its own Sustainable Development Goal, but it is an indispensable enabler of sustainable development. It connects people to education, It connects to jobs and opportunities, and it connects to healthcare. It supports economic growth, and it supports social inclusion and resilient communities. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the recently proclaimed United Nations Decade for Sustainable Transport for 2026-2035 reinforces Rather than advancing the parallel tracks, the Decade of Sustainable Transport and the Decade of Action for Road Safety should inform a single approach to transport, one that places safety at the heart of sustainable mobility. What does this mean in practice? It means planning housing, transport, and public sector space together rather than in isolation. It means investing in safe, affordable, and accessible public transport that expands opportunities while reducing congestion and emissions. It means designing streets that are safe for pedestrians and cyclists, creating healthier, more livable cities. It means building safety into transport planning from the outset, rather than trying to correct dangerous systems after tragedy strikes. This is also the essence of the Safe System Approach— designing transport systems that recognize human vulnerability and ensure that mistakes do not result in death or serious injury. We also need to rethink how we measure success. For decades, success has been defined by how efficiently we move vehicles. The true measures of success should instead be whether people, especially children, older persons, persons with disabilities, pedestrians, and cyclists, can move safely, affordably, and with dignity. Let us seize this opportunity to build transport systems that put people first. Let us act with urgency, with ambition, and with solidarity, because every life saved on our roads brings us one step closer to the promise of the 2030 Agenda. a future that is safer, more inclusive, and more sustainable for all. The Economic and Social Council remains committed to supporting international cooperation and partnership that advance road safety. Governments, international organizations, civil society, the private sector, academia, and the communities all have a vital role to play in in this respect. No single actor can address this challenge alone. Together, we can deliver better in the interest of all. I thank you.

I thank the President of the Economic and Social Council. I now give the floor to Mr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, The Director-General of the World Health Organization.

Your Excellency, Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly, Your Excellency Ambassador Aida Kassymaliyeva, Your Excellency Ambassador Peter Huleni, and my friend Special Envoy Jean Todt, and the President of ECOSOC, Ambassador Tapa, Excellencies, Dear colleagues and friends, let me start with a survey. If anyone in the room has ever been in a road traffic crash, please, I ask you to stand up personally. And then while you're standing, I have another question. If you lost someone you love in a road traffic crash or they were seriously injured, please stand up. Anyone you know and close to you. I think almost all of us. Thank you. You may be seated now. In one way or another, road safety touches all of our lives. I see it in this room today, and I feel it too. Last year alone, more than 1.1 million people lost their lives on the world's roads. That's more than 2 deaths every single minute. That's 1.1 million people who set out on a journey to work, to school, to the shops, or to visit family or friends and never reached their destination. A parent who never made it home for dinner. A child who never made it to school. A friend who never made it to say goodbye. Lives cut short in an instant. Those who survive often do so with life-changing injuries and with families who care for them, grieve with them, and carry on beside them. The toll is even more shocking when we consider that every single one of these deaths and injuries could have been prevented. Behind every statistic is a name, a face, a story. We owe it to them to act. Encouragingly, we have made real progress together. Since 2011, the number of annual deaths on the world's roads has dropped by 9%, and the fatality rate has fallen by 21%. There are bright spots in every region. Mexico has made safe mobility a universal right. Zambia has stepped up data collection and analysis. Thailand has strengthened emergency care. Vietnam has adopted strong laws and regulations. The United Kingdom's new road safety strategy strengthens governance and accountability. And the United Arab Emirates was one of the 10 countries that halved road fatalities in 10 years. The Marrakesh Declaration adopted last year is driving progress, and Africa's first legally binding road safety framework came into force this year. Together, we have shown that development does not and must not mean more road deaths. But it's not enough. Road crashes are still the leading cause of death among children and young people aged 5 to 29. Every one of those young lives had a future. We cannot accept losing them on the way to Our goal is a 50% drop in deaths by 2030. And at the midpoint in the Decade of Action for Road Safety, the time for talk is over. It's time to deliver. That's what the Declaration you're adopting today aims to do.

to do.

I thank Kyrgyzstan and Slovakia for their leadership in negotiating it. And I commend Member States for the commitments you are making: to adopting bold national strategies with targets, timelines and budgets that ensure accountability; to establishing lead agencies for road safety; To improving data, laws, regulations and enforcement. To strengthening the safety of vehicles and infrastructure. To managing speed. To enhancing rehabilitation and trauma care. And to ensuring safe, affordable and accessible public transport. The Global Plan for the Decade of Action charts the way forward. Building safe road systems is complicated. It requires a paradigm shift to make safety a priority. It means designing streets for people first, not motor vehicles. It means accepting that people make mistakes and taking action to ensure those mistakes aren't deadly. It means doing more to protect people who walk, cycle, or ride a motorbike because their lives matter as much as anyone traveling behind the wheel. This is not a job for the health sector alone. I hope you'll agree with me. Everyone has a role to play. We need businesses to put safety at the core of their operations. We need academia, civil society, and the media to produce evidence and hold leaders to account. We need youth movements to demand action and help us take it, because too often it's their generation paying the highest price. If we do this, the rewards are immense. Safe streets can unlock huge gains for the health of people and planet. When infrastructure is safe, more people choose to walk or cycle. Every step and every ride reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer. And if we give them the chance, more people choose public transport. This means cleaner and cooler air, less congestion and more vibrant public spaces. It opens access to jobs, schools and opportunities. It powers the green transition and ensures more people live longer, healthier and happier lives. All this is possible if we put people and safety first. Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends, in a turbulent world of increasing division, We can all agree on safe streets. We can all agree that everyone who sets out on a journey— to work, to school, to see the people they love— should reach their destination safely. Let this Declaration be more than words on a page. Let it be a promise to every family, who has stood here today, and to every family who is not in this room but is living with loss. We can make that happen. So together, let's do it for them. I thank you.

Thank you.

I thank the Director-General of the World Health Organization. We have heard the last speaker in the opening segment of the High-Level Meeting. As announced in my letter dated July 13th, 2026, we will now proceed to consider Draft Resolution A/80/L95 entitled Progress Declaration of the High-Level Meeting on Improving Road Global Safety. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

Thank you, Madam President. The present oral statement is made in the context of Rule 153 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly. The present statement has also been distributed to member states. Under the terms of paragraph 48 of the declaration entitled Progress Declaration of the High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety, annexed to the draft resolution, which would be adopted by the General Assembly, heads of state and government and high-level representatives would decide to review progress through the established reporting processes of the General Assembly and to undertake a further comprehensive review no later than 2030. With regard to the comprehensive review as contained in paragraph 48 of the declaration. In the absence of modalities of the comprehensive review, it is not possible at the present time to estimate the potential cost implications of the requirements. When the format, scope, and modalities of the comprehensive review are determined, the Secretary-General would assess the budgetary implications and advise the General Assembly in accordance with Rule 153 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly.

I thank you.

I thank the representative of the Secretariat before giving the floor for explanations of vote before the vote. As announced in my letters dated January 6th and May 20th, 2026, I propose that the time limits for statements in explanation of vote under this item be 5 minutes. Is there any objection to this proposal? I hear none. It is so decided. Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 72 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, when a representative exceeds her or his allotted time, the President shall call the speaker to order without delay, which will be done by means of automatic microphone cutoff. To assist delegations in managing their time, A countdown clock will be displayed on the screens. Members are also reminded that explanations of vote should be made by delegations from their seat. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United States.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Under President Trump, the United States is asking the United Nations to return to its core purposes: maintaining international peace, through measurable results, not ideological statements. Resolutions must be concise and actionable. They should drive outcomes. The United States voted no on this resolution because it represents the very type of mandate creep that has eroded the credibility of this institution. Instead of focusing on common-sense measures, this text attempts to globalize local governance and hitch domestic transportation budgets to the United Nations' sprawling ideological agenda. Every nation wants safe streets, and every parent wants their children protected when they walk to school. The United Nations has long been a global leader in automotive safety, infrastructure innovation, and rigorous traffic enforcement. Our nation saw its second-lowest traffic fatality record in recorded history at one point 1 zero fatalities per 100 million vehicles miles traveled. We value practical efforts to save lives. This declaration insists on integrating road safety into, quote, climate, environmental, and urban policies, end quote. It attempts to treat traffic management as a subset of the United Nations' broader 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Road safety is a practical matter of engineering, sober driving, and personal responsibility. It should not be used as a backdoor vehicle to enforce global climate pacts or top-down environmental restrictions on freedom of mobility. Additionally, the text pushes for international vehicle safety regulations and the top-down deployment of advanced automation technologies. It explicitly calls for the sharing, quote, of new safety technologies on mutually agreed terms with developing countries, end quote. The United States will always protect intellectual property rights and free market enterprise. Innovation is driven by American companies competing in the private sector, not by UN-managed technology transfer schemes. Or international regulatory boards attempting to dictate automotive design. The United States is taking a back-to-basics approach to road safety, as seen in our domestic programs such as Pathways to Safer Streets, Safe Roads Initiative, and Operation Safe Drive, which uses targeted countermeasures and enforcement to remove thousands of dangerous drivers from our roads. We believe member states should focus their efforts on such practical, results-driven actions within their own borders rather than engaging in symbolic global gestures. United States will continue to reduce traffic fatalities through American ingenuity, robust local policing, information campaigns, medical assistance programs, institutional partnerships, and state-of-the-art infrastructure investment. We do not need a multi-year UN roadmap, a new reporting mechanism to the World Health Organization, or international oversight to keep our citizens safe on the road. We underscore that UN General Assembly resolutions are non-binding. They do not create rights or obligations under international law, nor do they change the current state of conventional or customary international law. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United States. We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote before the vote. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/80/L95 entitled Progress Declaration of the High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety. As we heard, a recorded vote has been requested. We shall now begin the voting process. Those in favor of draft resolution A/80/L95, Those against? Abstentions? The Assembly is now voting on Draft Resolution A/80/L95 entitled Progress Declaration of the High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety. Will all delegations confirm that their votes Are accurately reflected on the screen. The voting has been completed. Please lock the machine. The result of the vote is as follows: in favor, 162; against, 1; abstention, 0. Draft Resolution A/80/L95 is adopted. Before giving the floor for explanation of vote after the vote, may I remind delegations that explanation of vote are limited 5 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. For those of you who are attending not as often as many of the PRs because of this high-level event, I would like to remind you that there is an automatic microphone cutoff. You will see the remaining speaking time on screen, and also your microphone starts blinking to the end of your speaking time. As a first speaker, I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Argentina, followed by New Zealand and Paraguay.

Gracias.

Thank you. Thank you very much, Madam President. Argentina has joined this high-level meeting from its commitment to reducing road casualties. And we highlight the technical aspects of the declaration emphasizing the importance of the exchange of best practices, capacity building, technology transfer, and financing based on international cooperation that respects the realities and national sovereignties. As regards the references to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Argentina recalls that this represents an aspirational framework and is not binding. Its implementation must respect the sovereign right of each state to interpret and pursue its objectives in accordance with their national legislation, priorities, and development strategies. In this regard, we reserve our national position on the matter. We also reserve our position on the role of the Finally, we would call for greater clarity and predictability as regards the procedures for the adoption of documents for meetings of this type, especially as regards the established steps in Resolution 80/47 on modalities. The procedural interpretation applied in this case does not necessarily constitute a precedent for future meetings with similar modalities. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Argentina. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of New Zealand.

Thank you, President. New Zealand voted in favor of this resolution in recognition of the challenge posed by global road safety fatalities. And the devastating impacts these have on families and on communities. We thank the co-facilitators and all member states who have contributed to this process, and we acknowledge the importance of continued international cooperation to reduce preventable road deaths and serious injuries. Road crashes impose profound costs on families, communities, health systems, and economies. For many countries, including in our own Pacific region, road trauma remains an urgent and serious challenge. New Zealand supports the broad purpose of this declaration to maintain global momentum, share good practice, and encourage practical action to improve road safety outcomes. New Zealand is committed to playing its part. Our national approach recognizes that safety is critical to a well-functioning transport system and that road deaths and serious injuries create significant social and economic costs. We are focused on practical, evidence-based interventions that target the causal factors of death and serious injury. New Zealand notes that some elements of the declaration do not fully reflect our own domestic road safety approach. New Zealand's road safety objectives do not adopt quantified casualty reduction targets. Our approach is instead shaped by national circumstances and by principles that place emphasis on the highest contributing factors to fatal and serious crashes, the economic and social outcomes sought from the road system, efficient and cost-effective delivery, personal responsibility, and public acceptability. My delegation kindly requests that this statement be included in the meeting record. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of New Zealand. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Paraguay.

Thank you very much, Madam President. My delegation wishes to deliver a general explanation as regards Draft Resolution A/40/L25 that was adopted at this meeting as regards references to Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development goals. We wish to highlight that paragraph 74 of Resolution 70/1 of the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted on the 25th of September 2025, through which the Agenda 2030 and the SDGs were established, we underscore the voluntary nature of the follow-up and review procedures of the 2030 Agenda and This must be adjusted to the normative frameworks and national priorities. Similarly, we also wish to point out in paragraph 55 where the aspirational nature of these, which is to say non-legally binding nature of the SDGs, is recognized together with the sovereign independence of states as regards their incorporation into their own public policies. As a result, the The national government is implementing its development plans in relation to the SDGs while fully exercising the national sovereignty of the State of Paraguay while adhering to our constitutional precepts. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Paraguay. We have heard the last speaker in the explanation of vote after the vote. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Her Excellency Aida Kassymaliyeva, Permanent Representative of Kyrgyzstan to the United Nations, and His Excellency Petr Haleny, Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the United Nations, who ably and patiently conducted the discussions and complex negotiations in the informal consultations on the Progress Declaration. I am sure members of the Assembly join me in extending to them our sincere appreciation. Before we begin with the list of speakers for the plenary segment, I would like to remind delegations that pursuant to Resolution 80/247, the time limit will be 3 minutes for individual delegations and 5 minutes for statements made on behalf of the group of states. Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 72 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, when a representative exceeds her or his allotted time, the President shall call the speaker to order without delay, which will be done by means of automatic microphone cutoff. To assist delegations in managing their time, A countdown clock will be displayed on the screens. Please be aware that the remaining speaking time is displayed on the left-hand side of the rostrum. Having said this, I would appeal to all speakers to deliver their statements at a reasonable pace to facilitate interpretation into the six official languages. I now give the floor to His Excellency. Excellency Dara O'Brien, Minister of Transport and Minister of Climate, Energy, and the Environment of Ireland.

Madam Chairperson, Special Envoy, Excellencies, delegates, and friends, Ireland aligns itself with the statement of the European Union and its member states We very much welcome this high-level meeting on improving global road safety and its focus on accelerating a shared commitment to halve road deaths and serious injuries by 2030. We thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this meeting and the co-facilitators for their invaluable work. Ireland supports the adoption of today's declaration. We strongly support the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety and the leadership of the WHO and other UN entities and representatives working on global road safety. Our experience in Ireland shows the value of long-term national strategies, cross-governmental partnerships, and sustained public engagements to change behavior. In just over 2 decades, Ireland reduced road deaths from 472 fatalities in 1997 to 137 in 2021. But in recent years remind us that we cannot be complacent. In 2025, tragically, 188 people lost their lives on Irish roads. Ireland's Road Safety Strategy to 2030 is aligned with the Safe System Approach, the EU framework, and importantly, the UN target to halve deaths and serious injuries this decade. It also commits Ireland to Vision Zero by 2050. We're acting across safer roads, safer speeds, safer vehicles, safer road users, post-crash response, and stronger governance while investing in active travel and public transport. Current priorities include speed limit reduction and safety camera enforcement, better collision data, stronger road traffic legislation, and improved driver education. These actions are national, but road safety is a shared international responsibility. People, goods, vehicles, technologies, and standards move across borders, and our response must be equally connected. Ireland supports stronger international cooperation to help all countries implement proven measures— safe road design, speed management, seatbelt use, action on drink and drug driving, prevention of distracted driving, vehicle safety standards, emergency care, and reliable data systems. As we approach the midpoint of the Decade of Action, Ireland's message is clear: implementation and acceleration. Proven interventions must be applied consistently, resourced adequately, and sustained politically. Let us leave this Assembly with a renewed resolve to put people first, protect the most vulnerable, and ensure safe, sustainable, and accessible mobility for all. Go raibh míle maith agat go leir. Thank you.

I thank the Minister of Transport and Minister of Climate, Energy and the Environment of Ireland. I now give the floor to His Excellency Damirbek Osmanov, Minister of Health of Kyrgyzstan.

Madam Chair, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I welcome this high-level meeting and thank the United Nations for mobilizing global action on one of the most pressing public health challenges. We support the objectives of General Assembly Resolution 78/290, which reaffirms that road safety is inseparably linked to sustainable development and the protection of human life. Allow me to express our sincere gratitude to the President of the General Assembly for the confidence placed in the Kyrgyz Republic and the Slovak Republic by entrusting our countries with co-facilitating the negotiations on the outcome declaration. We worked closely to ensure an open, inclusive, and transparent process and to bring the positions of member states closer together. We thank all delegations for their constructive engagement and flexibility, which enabled the preparation of a balanced and action-oriented document. For Kyrgyzstan, protecting the lives and health of citizens is an absolute priority. In 2025, 8,456 road traffic accidents were recorded, claiming 900 lives and injuring more than 12,000 people. Every life lost is an irreplaceable tragedy. Kyrgyzstan is implementing the National Development Strategy until 2040 and the Road Safety Strategy, which aims to reduce road fatalities by 50% by 2027. This year, a dedicated commission was established under the Cabinet of Ministers to coordinate interagency action at the highest level. We're also advancing digital solutions. The Safe City project has integrated more than 5,000 intelligent cameras while road infrastructure and legislation continue to be modernized. In June 2026, a law was adopted to regulate personal mobility devices, including electric scooters, by setting a speed limit of 15 kilometers per hour and introducing administrative liability. As Minister of Health, I must emphasize that no health system can address this challenge alone. We are strengthening emergency preparedness, modernizing trauma care, and developing air ambulance services. The Ministry of Health is also expanding prevention campaigns because road safety begins with the responsible behavior of every road user. The Kyrgyz Republic remains committed to international cooperation and to implementing the Marrakesh Declaration of 2025. Our meeting in June 2026 with the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, Mr. Jean Todt, opened new opportunities for practical cooperation. We thank United Nations, the World Health Organization, and all international partners for supporting national efforts. I thank you.

I thank the Minister of Health of Kyrgyzstan. I now give the floor to His Excellency Abdessamad Khayoub, Minister of Transport and Logistics of Morocco.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate, Your Excellencies, Thank you, Mr.

President.

Ministers, delegates, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honor to take part in this high-level meeting that is dedicated to safety on roads, road safety, which is a very important topic that poses many challenges in public health, sustainable development, and international cooperation fields. Commitment to achieve the objectives of the Triple Action— Decade for Action for Road Safety to halve road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. To achieve this objective, the Kingdom of Morocco, in view of the royal vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, seeks to strengthen road safety by adopting an integrated strategy that is in line with the 2030 Plan for Sustainable Development and for road safety. This new plan is based on several pillars such as good governance to coordinate among the different agencies and professionals as well as the components of civil society organizations and to actively engage them in implementing projects for prevention and law enforcement, as well as improving infrastructure in order to take care also of the injured, as well as education and awareness raising and adopting technology and artificial intelligence, as well as the efforts to enhance road safety that are based primarily on protecting the most vulnerable groups. Whether they are pedestrians or cyclists who constitute 70%, unfortunately, of the victims of road incidents in Morocco. We have dedicated $1 million to implement the adopted strategy. The 4th Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakesh last year under the auspices of King Mohammed VI that was co-organized by Morocco and World Health Organization as well as relevant international organizations. It was a landmark event whereby there were more than 500 people, 146 countries, and more than 100 ministers that are responsible for traffic and transportation in their respective countries. The Marrakesh Declaration is considered a strong pillar for continuing the implementation.

The microphone got cut off.

I thank, I thank the Minister of Transport and Logistics of Morocco. I now give the floor to Her Excellency Lillian Greenwood, Minister of Local Transport of the United Kingdom.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The United Kingdom welcomes this high-level meeting and its declaration, and we thank the ambassadors from the Kyrgyz Republic and Slovak Republic for steering this progress, building on commitments made last year in Marrakesh. And I again thank the Kingdom of Morocco for being so such a welcoming host. That meeting called on us to make road safety a political priority. Since then, we have published our first road safety strategy in more than a decade, which aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads by at least 65% and 70% for children by 2035. Thank you. It builds in the safe system approach structured around 4 themes: safer road users, safer infrastructure, safer vehicles with innovative tech as standard, and effective enforcement. In England, the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy also builds in safer, greener, and more accessible routes And sets a target for 55% of short journeys in towns and cities in England to be walked or cycled by 2035. But the success of our national efforts will rely on international partnership. The United Nations Regional Economic Commissions play an important role in developing international vehicle regulations data standards, and road safety frameworks. The United Kingdom is contributing to global road safety through UNECE processes such as the Global Forum for Road Safety and World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations. We also offer expertise in vehicle safety assessment programs such as Euro NCAP And we play a pivotal role in advancing research on global road safety through our funding and support to the World Bank's Global Road Safety Facility and IE Connect for Impact program. The new UN Decade of Sustainable Transport offers further opportunity for us to put safety at the heart of policy. We look forward to continuing to work with you each to save the 1.2 million lives lost globally on roads each year. Thank you.

I thank the Minister of Local Transport of the United Kingdom. I now give the floor to Her Excellency Medina Sissoko Dembélé, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure of Mali.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, I wish to convey warm greetings Its goal is to cut in half the number of victims of road traffic accidents. To that end, Mali has carried out— for its first pillar, we've set up an interministerial road safety committee. And for pillar 2, we've launched an improvement of infrastructure and equipment to improve areas that are prone to accident, and we've also underscored an awareness of vulnerable users. And for Pillar 3, we've strengthened technical automobile controls, and we've strengthened our legislation on the awareness of child safety. For Pillar 4, we have taught the rules, rules of the road in educational institutions. And we've introduced ongoing training of commercial chauffeurs and other drivers. And we've also established for Pillar 5 rescue posts through— on intercity routes. And we have also strengthened the technical dashboards of hospitals and health centers to care for road traffic everyone and to improve road safety. With that in mind, Mali remains ready to commit together with its technical partners and financial partners to tackle the challenges of road traffic accidents, which compromises the development of our country. I remain convinced that international cooperation will allow us to achieve SDG 3.6. Thank you.

I thank the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure of Mali. I now give the floor to His Excellency Sheikh Rabiu Alam, Minister of Road Transport and Bridges of Bangladesh.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Your Excellency, distinguished delegates, colleagues, and friends, it is an honor to address this high-level meeting. On behalf of Bangladesh, I reaffirm our commitments to reducing road traffic deaths and injuries. In line with the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021 to 2030, Bangladesh has taken significant steps to strengthen its road safety frameworks. We have enacted the Road Transport Act 2018, the Rules 2022, Bangladesh Helmet Standard 2022, and the Speed Management Guidelines 2024. We are going to adopt the Speed Management Manual and Helmet Implementation and Enforcement Guideline by 2026. Besides, government is implementing AI-enabled speed management, quicker post-crash response system, and safety intervention on highways, particularly for pedestrians. Today, I am pleased to reaffirm Bangladesh government's commitment to finalizing, endorsing, and passing the comprehensive road safety law by December 2027, in line with the safe system approach and global best practices. Bangladesh government acknowledges the critical support of the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Global Road Safety Partnership, the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, and our national civil society organizations. Finally, Bangladesh reaffirms its commitment to make road safety a political priority. To achieve the 2030 targets, of a 50% reduced— reduction in road crash, death, and injury. Road safety is a shared responsibility. Together, we can build a safer, healthier, and more equitable future for all road users. Thank you all.

I thank the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges of Bangladesh. I now give the floor to His Excellency Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez, Minister of Interior of Spain.

Madam President, Excellencies, in Spain we know that road accidents can be avoided and we have even proven this. Over the last 20 years, we have gone from having amongst the highest mortality rates in the European Union with 128 deaths per million inhabitants to among those countries showing the best improvement with a rate falling to just 37 deaths per million. This progress has been based on 3 pillars. Firstly, we have placed victims their families at the center of our road safety policies, recognizing their essential role in promoting a culture of prevention. We have also promoted the commitment of a society as a whole— government, companies, social organizations, and user associations, road user associations— because we are convinced that road safety is a shared responsibility. And thirdly, we have ensured compliance with regulations through effective surveillance and control, prioritizing the main risk factors: use of seat belts, helmets, alcohol and drug use, speed, distractions, and repeat offenders. I would also like to point out some recent measures that continue contributing to our common goal here, which is saving lives. The points-based licensing system is now 20 years old, and this is one of the measures that has most helped us save lives, but also establishing a speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour on urban roads with just one lane in each direction. Similarly, replacing emergency triangles with connected light beacons, and this reduces the risk of accidents, preventing the driver from having to get out of the vehicle in the event of a breakdown, and reducing the maximum permitted alcohol level while driving to 0.1 milligram per liter of exhaled air. We are working on legislation for this, and we hope that this will be passed soon. Excellencies, countries with the greatest experience in road safety should share their knowledge and cooperate with others. States, and the creation of effective structures for regional collaboration in this area is absolutely key to reducing overall global accident levels. For this reason, we will continue to promote the Ibero-American Road Safety Program, working on the harmonization of driving licenses and on a common framework of regulations for the next Ibero-American Summit to be held by heads of state in November in Madrid. And this includes clear commitments on road safety. And I conclude with a firm conviction: We know that measures save lives. It is now up to us to implement them with the ambition, determination, and urgency that this challenge demands of us. I thank you.

I thank the Minister of Interior of Spain. I now give the floor to His Excellency Nadalulaza Ndwandwe, Minister of Public Works and Transport of Eswatini.

Madam President, on behalf of the Kingdom of Eswatini, I thank you for convening this high-level meeting to address a matter that touches every aspect of human life— road safety. The elevation of this subject to this high-level discussion reflects the commitment of the United Nations and fellow member states to advancing global road safety. Eswatini also commends the dedication of the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Road Safety, Mr. Jean Todt, whose efforts continue to yield meaningful results. Results. Eswatini is proud to be among the first countries to ratify the African Road Safety Charter, which is derived from the Global Framework on Road Safety. Beyond ratification, Eswatini went further to develop its first National Road Safety Strategy 2023-2030 to guide all road safety stakeholders towards zero traffic deaths by 2063 and reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030. The strategy adopts the safe system approach, and its quality was recognized through an award under the road safety management category of the Coffee and Road Safety Awards held in Marrakesh, Morocco in 2023. Since 2023, Eswatini has recorded steady decline in road deaths, and with mid-year figures of 2026 showing continued positive trend. We are committed to pushing these figures even lower because road deaths are surely preventable. Madam President, we will not rest on our laurels. Progress demands even further, even greater effort to strengthen road safety. Eswatini has begun improving driver learning, training, and testing to align standards under the Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme developed by 3 regional blocs in Africa supported by the European Union. Our National Road Safety Strategy identified weaknesses in this area, and the reforms underway demonstrate our determination to achieve successful turnaround. Vehicle testing is equally critical. Eswatini is enhancing vehicle testing and fitness systems by transitioning from conventional methods to electronic platforms. Strengthening both driver competence and vehicle safety will significantly advance our ability to meet national and global road safety targets. To ensure safer roads, Eswatini has enacted the Roads Authority Act of 2023, Establishing the Eswatini Roads Authority to improve road maintenance. A dedicated road fund has been created to enhance resources.

I thank the Minister of Public Works and Transport of Eswatini. I now give the floor to His Excellency

Dear President of General Assembly, dear UN Secretary-General Special Envoy for Road Safety, Mr.

Jean Todt, Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Slovenia warmly welcomes the political declaration adopted today and thanks the co-facilitators Slovakia and Kyrgyzstan for their outstanding work. Its central message— scaling up governance, financing, and implementation to halve road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030— captures the urgency of our common mission. Road fatalities in Slovenia have fallen from 506 in 1994 to just 68 in 2024, the lowest number in our history. This progress is extraordinary and has been achieved despite 80% increase in traffic volumes over the past 2 decades. However, the first half of 2026 brought a serious warning. While the overall number of road crashes decreased by 30%, fatalities increased by more than 35%. This paradox shows that although our prevention measures are reducing the number of crashes, these more severe crashes are becoming more frequent. Excessive speeding, often combined with alcohol, remains the leading cause of fatalities. Fatal crashes. At the same time, we are witnessing growing vulnerability among motorcyclists. Over the past decade, the number of registered motorcyclists in Slovenia has increased by 74%, making this group one of the greatest road safety challenges. We have significant progress, but still not enough. Every country faces its own challenges. Road safety is a shared global responsibility and sustainable financing is essential. Slovenia does not only advocate for action. We are proud to have pledged €30,000 to the UN Nation Road Safety Fund for the period 2026-2028. We believe that sharing knowledge, expertise and the good practices through the Fund can help save lives where the need is the greatest. Road safety is a global goal that unites us all, regardless of nationality, religion, and political differences. Let us use that shared commitment to accelerate action, strengthen cooperation, increase investment, and turn today's commitments into measurable life-saving results.

Thank you.

I thank the State Secretary for Infrastructure and Energy of Slovenia. I now give the floor to Her Excellency Marie-Pierre Bedren, Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Interior responsible for citizenship of France.

Madame la Présidente.

Madam President, Excellencies, dear colleagues. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. President. As I will say in several seconds, no society can consider these tragedies to be inevitable. Road safety is not a technical policy. It is a policy to protect lives. This is why France supports the goal set in the UN Decade of Action, that is halving the number of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. Road safety is part of the education of every student from the primary school up until the lycée with a view to curbing high-risk behavior. Learning to move in traffic means learning to live together, to respect others with a view to being a good citizen and being responsible. This policy is vital, but it is never achieved. In France, young people from 18 to 24 are still the category most vulnerable to fatal accidents. Prevention always needs to be updated. And we need to continue to promote a culture of road safety by teaching young generations responsibility about vulnerable users like pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. The challenges are legion, and— but we share the same responsibility: building public policy grounded in the realities of each territory that can adapt to new challenges and continue to protect road users. Ultimately, road safety is one of the most tangible expressions of public policy. We need to ensure that this ambition guides all of our decisions.

I thank Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Interior responsible for citizen of France. I now give the floor to His Excellency Jatsat Thiset, Deputy Minister of Interior of Thailand.

Madam President, Excellency, as the heads of delegation, Thailand places road safety at the very center of our nation's agenda. Our target to cut road traffic fatalities and injuries by at least 50% by 2030. The road safety mechanism of Thailand is driven by multi-level governance. The National Road Accident Prevention— Road Reduction Policy Committee serves as the policymaking body. The directing center for road safety at the national and provincial levels function as coordinating mechanism. The district road safety operation center and the local administrative organization road safety operation center serve as the operational mechanism on the ground. The government partner with the local administrative organization to operate community checkpoint keeping, overload saver to local monitoring, and improve diving discipline. Under our 5-year safety master plan adopted in 2022, Thailand is working to Reduce road fatalities to 12 deaths per 100,000 population by 2027. It relies on practical intervention, multi-stakeholder collaboration, revising the law and regulation to lead. international standard as well as provide enough budget allocation. Excellency, Thailand commits to work closely with other countries and development partners, and we stand ready to conduct our Thailand campaign. This project includes Ministry of Interior, the Royal Thai Police, the Ministry of Justice, administrative bodies from local to regional levels coordinated efforts.

Thank you.

I thank the Deputy Minister of Interior of Thailand. I now give the floor to His Excellency Sothea Neam, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Public Works and Transportation of Cambodia.

Madam President, distinguished guests, Cambodia remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing road safety, guided by the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030. Today, I am honored to share Cambodia's recent achievements and commitment in promoting road safety. One, in line with the commitment made at the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety held in Morocco in 2025, Cambodia has acceded to the 1958 Agreement Concerning the Adoption of Hazardous Technical United Nations Regulations for Wheel Vehicles, Equipment, and Parts. Cambodia— Cambodia is firmly committed to strengthening road safety through safer and more sustainable transport systems, including the adoption and implementation of measures to improve the road safety of the daily commute of factory workers in the garment, footwear, and travel goods sector. We have set a national target to phase out the use of unsafe standing trucks for factory worker transportation by 2027 and to support the transition to safer collective transport vehicles with appropriate seating and safety features through initiatives funded by the United Nations Road Safety Fund and implemented by ILO Better Factories Cambodia and AIP Foundation, the national policy is being translated into concrete actions that directly benefits the worker at enterprise level. 3, in parallel, Cambodia continues to strengthen child road safety through the advancement of Safe School Zones initiative. Building on our national commitment to establish Safe School Zones, by 2027, Cambodia has developed national guidelines on safe school zones to support consistent implementation throughout the country and establish the multi-stakeholder technical working group on safe school zone initiatives to further strengthen coordination and sustainability. Moreover, Cambodia is collaborating closely with relevant stakeholders and NGOs to identify and to mobilize resources to accelerate significant progress toward our 2027 commitments and to achieve tangible results. 4, by 2030, Cambodia commits—

Thank you.

I thank Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Public Work and Transportation of Cambodia. I now give the floor to His Excellency Ovasgeldy Kakaliev, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished colleagues, at the outset, on behalf of the delegation of Turkmenistan, I want to express immense gratitude to the Office of the Presidency of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly for convening this event and for allowing us to Solutions and ensure that we swiftly achieve all of the goals that we've set in order to decrease road traffic casualties. Every year on the world's roads, a large number of crashes take place. Turkmenistan views this problem as a common natural— national and human problem which requires an intergovernmental approach. Thank you. Turkmenistan every year carries out a meeting on road safety. During that meeting, there are events on ensuring the rules of the road. Our government has adopted a national plan to ensure road safety in Turkmenistan. The implementation of that in every ministry and agency— there is a special plan to curb crashes. Over the last period, Turkmenistan has taken concrete steps. On the 11th of April, we signed a law. That law has substantially changed our code of road violations. They're now— it governs the penalty for road violations. This is not a natural disaster. We need swift coordinated action. However, we're aware that further progress will require closer international cooperation. Turkmenistan is actively cooperating with many international organizations. We're working with the countries of the CIS and in Central Asia on road safety, and we're taking active part in measures to Share experience, set framework policies, and to decrease road accidents. By way of conclusion, I want to thank everyone and wish everyone fruitful work. And Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs will be working to curb mortality and injuries on the roads and to halve road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.

I thank Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan. I now give the floor to His Excellency Arnaldo Manuel Carlos, Secretary of State of Home Affairs, Ministry of Interior of Angola.

Mr. President, the Republic of Angola aligns itself with the statement delivered by the African Group and congratulates Your Excellency on the conduct of this important high-level meeting, the holding of which reaffirms the commitment of the international community to one of the most important priorities on the global development agenda— road safety. We are halfway through the decade of action of the Road Safety This moment calls for more than an assessment of the progress achieved. It requires determination and political will to accelerate the implementation of the commitments undertaken in the Stockholm Declaration, reaffirmed in the New York Political Declaration in 2022, and reinforced by the Marrakech Declaration in 2025. Achieving by 3.6 Sustainable Development Goals. To halve the number of deaths and serious injuries resulting from road traffic crashes by 2030 will depend on our collective capacity to transform political commitments into concrete results through sustainable investment, through institutions, and more effective international cooperation. Every year, road crashes claim more than 1 million lives and cause tens of millions of injuries worldwide, constituting one of the leading causes of death among children and young people. Their impact extends beyond public health, undermining economic growth, deepening inequalities, and hampering the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. In Angola, road traffic crashes are concentrated mainly in the major urban centers, in step with growing mobility and urbanization. In response to this reality, the Angolan executive has been implementing The Republic of Angola is implementing an integrated strategy based on strengthening the legal and institutional framework, intensifying enforcement, promoting and road safety education and awareness, progressively improving infrastructure, modernizing traffic management systems, and strengthening emergency response and assistance to victims. The Republic of Angola considers that the success of the Decade of Action will Thank you. Road safety will depend on strengthening international partnerships, expanding technical assistance, transferring knowledge, fostering innovation, and mobilizing predictable and sustainable financial resources, particularly for developing countries. Road safety must continue to occupy a central place in public policies in development, mobility, health, education, and spatial planning, reflecting a truly integrated and people-centered approach. of Angola reaffirms its full readiness to continue working with the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and all international partners in building safer, more resilient, and inclusive road transport systems. Because every life saved means a family preserved, a community strengthened, and a decisive step towards more human and sustainable development. Thank you very much.

I thank Secretary of State of Home Affairs, Ministry of Interior of Angola. I now give the floor to His Excellency Usdam Muhammad Al-Sulaimi, Secretary-General of the Ministerial Committee for Traffic Safety of Saudi Arabia.

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

Your Excellency, President of the General Assembly, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, may the peace of God be upon you. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would like at the outset to express its appreciation to the United Nations and to the WHO and all our international partners for their relentless efforts to reinforce our global commitment to exchange experiences and support collective efforts for safer roads and more sustainable societies. We reiterate our commitment to work alongside the international community for safer roads and a more sustainable transportation and to preserve the safety and dignity of the human being. Your Excellencies, road safety is one of the most pressing human and developmental issues. It is closely linked to preserving life and achievements and to improving the quality of life increasing the efficiency of economies and preserving our communities. Avoiding car crashes are not limited to roads. It encompasses families, health systems, and national development processes. In light of the great support granted to this dossier by His Majesty the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has enhanced its road safety system in— as part of the— our Saudi Vision 2030 and in line with our international commitments and the goals of the Decade for Action. Your Excellencies, the Kingdom, thanks to our integrated national efforts, has achieved tangible progress in road safety. We have achieved a drop in deaths compared to 2016. In addition to the safety of the infrastructure, the Kingdom has granted great importance to adopting international approaches to improve road safety, including applying IRAP road safety. Safety on roads has increased 81.5% in 2025. Exceeding the global average of 75% by 2030, in addition to a census including 75,000 kilometers of roads. Your Excellencies, this meeting is an opportunity to reiterate our global commitment and accelerate implementation and to exchange experiences and move from the— from planning to measurable results. We wish all success to all our partners, and may the peace of God be upon you.

I thank Secretary-General of the Ministerial Committee for Traffic Safety of Saudi Arabia. I now give the floor to Brazil.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President. Brazil's most important achievement in advancing road safety has been the development and continuous improvement of Penetrans, our national road safety plan. For a country as large and diverse as Brazil, having a single national strategy is already a significant accomplishment. PenaTrans was established in 2018, and importantly, it's established by law. This gives the plan continuity and makes road safety a long-term national commitment. During the major review of PenaTrans in 2023, we transformed the planning process. Instead of asking states and municipalities only to implement the plan, we invited them to help design it. Local governments began contributing their own experiences, successful policies, and lessons learned from implementation. This change was particularly important because around 80% of road fatalities in Brazil occur on state and municipal roads, not on the federal highway network. A truly national road safety strategy must therefore be built together with those responsible for most of the road network. Our experience has also reinforced another important lesson: good planning must go hand in hand with effective implementation. In 2025, Brazil achieved a significant reduction in fatalities on federal highways, reversing the upward trend that had continued since 2019. This result demonstrated that public investment in safer infrastructure combined with data-driven enforcement can save lives. This experience also taught us that a plan without a budget is only an intention. For this reason, the next phase of PenaTrans will focus on linking public budgets to the priorities of the plan. Our objective is to strengthen accountability by ensuring that investments at every level of government are aligned with our rational road safety goals. At the same time, Brazil faces an urgent challenge: fatalities involving motorcyclists continue to increase. Addressing this challenge will require better public transportation so that people have safe and affordable mobility options. Our goal is simple: to link priorities, budgets, and results so that every investment contributes to saving lives. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representatives representative of Brazil. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Qatar.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, first I extend my gratitude to the PGA for convening this important meeting. We extend our appreciation for the efforts undertaken by the facilitators for the declaration. We thank Kyrgyzstan and Slovakia, and we thank the United Nations and all of our international partners for their support. Partners who are working for road safety and to reduce economic and human losses. We believe road safety is a matter of development, public safety, and, and safety. It's also linked to the implementation of the SDGs. We underscore the importance of implementing the second decade for road action, 2021 to 2030, which aims to have road traffic deaths in injuries by 2030. The State of Qatar is convinced that the protection of human lives requires a comprehensive approach rooted in the modernization of infrastructure, strengthening of legislation and controls. And we need technology and innovation in addressing road traffic, as well as the promotion of the safety of road users. The State of Qatar is continuing to shoulder its national and international commitments its National Strategy for Road Safety 2025 to 2030, which aims to decrease road mortality— this in keeping with UN goals and the national vision of Qatar, our Vision 2030. The State of Qatar attaches as well particular attention to the protection of the most vulnerable categories, like pedestrians and cyclists and motorcyclists through programs such as the Ambassadors of Road Safety program in schools, which aims to root road culture among the young generations. There are challenges related to road safety. These require strengthening cooperation at the international level, in particular through trading experience, through capacity building, and ensuring the transfer of knowledge developing countries so as to contribute to curbing the mortality and injury rate internationally. We underscore the importance of providing the resources needed to accompany international efforts to improve road safety, including through voluntary partnerships aiming to achieve this common humanitarian goal. In closing, we reiterate our commitment to supporting international action for road safety. and to work together with all partners to craft safer and more sustainable societies while guaranteeing a better future for future generations. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Qatar. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Argentina.

Madam President, distinguished representatives, Argentina has joined this high-level meeting and reaffirms its commitment to the second decade of action for road safety and the goal of reducing road casualties by half. Since 2008, our country has had our National Road Safety Agency. It is an institution with legal and economic autonomy in charge of coordinating national policy as regards transport and road safety. In order to ensure a federal approach, we work together across the 24 provinces in the country, and they are represented at the Federal Council where we agree on common guidelines and goals. The agency is also assisted by advisory committee made up of representatives of the private sector and NGOs with a recognized track record. Our system is based on the principles of a safe system. We start from the premise that no life can be lost due to human error, and in this framework, Argentina is making progress on 4 clear strategic priorities. Firstly, evidence-based management. We have strengthened accident data collection systems across our territory. This allows us to identify risk factors and to assess the impact of our policies. Secondly, the protection of vulnerable users. In Argentina, like in almost all countries, 46% of fatalities are motorcyclists, and this is why our strategic plan has a specific access for motorcycles. We're working on a comprehensive schedule for the safety of motorcyclists. And amongst other actions, this prioritizes the licensing, training, supervision, and control of the use of protective factors, as well as targeted awareness campaigns specifically aimed at motorcyclists. And third, safer vehicles. We're promoting vehicle safety standards, including advanced braking systems, CBS and ABS, in motorcycles regardless of their cylinder capacity. In addition, self-driving modules for all types of vehicles, modernizing current legislation. And fourth is free national coverage for post-emergency victim care. This line is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing guidance and comprehensive assistance to victims. And we know that road accident Infections continue to be the leading cause of death amongst young people between the ages of 5 and 29, and they generate an economic cost of around 2.6% of GDP. The challenge is great indeed, but we have the political will, the institutions, and the commitment to tackle this challenge. Argentina welcomes the technical aspects of this declaration and the call to step up implementation of its commitments. From our perspective and from From our approach, which is one of constructive participation, we require greater international cooperation, exchange of good practices, technology transfers, and financing to sustain actions in the remaining years of the decade. I thank you.

Representative of Argentina, I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Uruguay.

Thank you, Madam President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, distinguished participants. It is an honor to be here representing Uruguay at this high-level meeting on improving global road safety. I'm pleased to share the progress in our country in this area in line with the 2030 Agenda and the Decade of Action for Road Safety. Uruguay welcomes the adoption of the Declaration of Progress. This is an encouraging sign of the international community's willingness to redouble its efforts and make progress towards meeting the global road safety goals and prevent avoidable loss of life. Traffic accidents are a major public health issue with more than 1 million people losing their lives as a result of it every year globally, and this is why in Uruguay we put people and the protection of life at the heart of our public policies. We hold the certainty that road safety must be integrated into health policy, transport policy, education, urban development, and infrastructure policy with a vision that is underpinned by evidence, with institutional leadership, and a sustained commitment from state and society. In this regard, UNICEF has strengthened its role as the governing body of national road safety policy in Uruguay, fostering coordination across national agencies, subnational governments, enforcement agencies, the justice system, academia, and civil society. For us, governance constitutes the main instrument for achieving results. Within this framework, we have developed a work plan with 6 strategic lines that we have been actively applying and developing. Firstly, strengthening the presence road safety on the public agenda by promoting a culture of prevention and respect. Secondly, by deepening oversight and effective compliance with the rules. This includes coordination between the distinct levels of governments and different institutions. Thirdly, expanding social and territorial participation. This allows us to identify concrete specific problems and to design solutions adapted to the realities in the country. And these 3 initiatives together have allowed us to reduce deaths by 12.5% in the first half of this year. Fourthly, incorporating road safety into the education program. Fifth, strengthening a response of the justice system, seeking a coherent and effective implementation of the regulations. And finally, continue developing specific management tools such as the points-based driver's license, speed management, and other systems. Uruguay also gives special importance to international and regional cooperation. Currently, we hold the presidency of the Ibero-American Road Safety Observatory. This is a network made up of 22 Ibero-American countries. This promotes exchange of experiences, strengthening technical capacity, and the production of comparable information, as well as the development of common public policy for the region. In June 2026, we'll approve the Madrid Declaration. This will be submitted to heads of state and government. We know that achieving the Global Goals requires political leadership. I thank you.

The distinguished representative of Uruguay. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Greece.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Greece fully supports the objective of the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50% by 2030. For us, this is not only an international target, it is a national commitment. and it is measured in lives. Road safety is not only a transport issue. It is public health, law enforcement, infrastructure, education, and above all, culture. In Greece, we have chosen to move from commitments to implementation. We adopted a new road traffic code focused on the behaviours that cost lives— speeding, alcohol, non-use of helmets and seatbelts, red light violations, and dangerous driving. We have strengthened enforcement through targeted police controls and the deployment of AI road cameras. At the same time, we are making safe choices easier. In Athens, 24-hour public transport every Saturday night helps thousands of people, especially young people, return home safely after going out. We are also investing in safer infrastructure, with major upgrades across the national road network and new projects currently under construction. These efforts are producing results. In 2025, Greece recorded 517 road fatalities, the lowest number since 1963, and one of the strongest reductions in fatal crashes in Europe. But we are not satisfied. Every life lost is one too many. Our next priorities are clear: protecting motorcyclists and pedestrians, tackling speeding and drink-driving, improving safety during peak travel periods, and using better data to guide every intervention. Greece is advancing an integrated national road safety strategy that brings together government, local authorities, police, infrastructure operators, and civil society. We believe that effective governance, reliable data, and accountability are essential to saving lives. Our message today is simple: road deaths Accidents are not inevitable, they are preventable. The 2030 target will not be achieved through declarations alone. It will be achieved through implementation, enforcement, safer infrastructure, better data, and international cooperation. Greece remains fully committed to contributing to this common effort, sharing our experience and learning from others.

Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Greece. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Dominican Republic.

Your Excellency, Madam President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, on behalf of the Dominican Republic, I want to say that I'm grateful for this opportunity to participate in this high-level meeting on road safety. This is an issue that calls on our responsibility as governments as well as an international community. We express our support and our readiness and support for the declaration adopted today. It calls on us to take on this global commitment. Allow me to begin with a reality that can leave no one indifferent. In the year 2025, 2,992 individuals lost their lives in traffic accidents in the Dominican Republic. More than 65% of them, precisely 1,995 of them, were motorcyclists. And this is why we are implementing a new technical norm of approved standardized helmets, which guarantees that only helmets able to— capable of saving lives for the driver and the passenger enter the country. At the same time, we are working to ensure that in the Dominican Republic, no motorcycle is sold without a certified helmet. And we have a slogan for this: one motorcycle, one helmet.

On—

in November 2024, our president signed the National Pact for Road Safety, signed by 121 public and private entities. And road safety has been declared a priority of high national interest through Decree 656/24. This also initiated the National Strategic Road Safety Plan 2025 through 2030. Road safety also requires the involvement of young people, and this is why, in coordination with the of Education, we have launched the Traffic Guardians Program where all high school students this year will take virtual education— virtual practice for road safety with the aim of achieving 300,000 students trained by 2028. Madam President, no plan will be sufficient without the financial commitment of member states, and this is why we are making progress with a road safety program approved by the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank in July 2025, with an investment of $200 million to improve our road infrastructure. Road safety is not, however, the exclusive responsibility of governments. It requires a commitment from civil society and also from academia. This is why we are working to ensure that private companies also implement road safety labor plans. The Dominican Republic, we are reaffirming our commitment to this global agenda. We will continue acting decisively and to continue to place the protection of life at the center of every public policy. There is no great— more noble mission than saving lives. I thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Dominican Republic. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kenya.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, road safety remains one of Kenya's foremost public health and development challenges. Over the last 5 years, Kenya has continued to record approximately 4,000 to 5,000 road fatalities annually, with more than 20,000 people injured. We recognize the burden of road safety— road traffic injuries remains unacceptably high. Vulnerable road users, particularly pedestrians and motorcyclists, account for majority of these fatalities, together contributing well over half the deaths on our roads. Road crashes are not only transport issue, but economic and social development issue. Kenya estimates that road traffic crashes account for 5% of the GDP annually. In response to this challenge, Kenya has embraced a safe system approach anchored on 3 pillars, basically, of implementation: engineering, enforcement, and education. We continue to invest in safer road infrastructure through emphasis on non-motorized transport facilities, road safety audits, safer school zones, and the adaptation of international road safety assessment standards. In enforcement, we strengthened evidence-based enforcement through technology-based traffic management, improved driver vehicle regulations, and enhanced compliance monitoring. We also modernized driver licensing and vehicle inspection and digital enforcement system to improve accountability. Education In education, public awareness remains central to our strategy. Kenya has intensified nationwide road safety campaigns targeting schools, public transport operators and employers, communities, and vulnerable road users. We are embedding road safety education into learning institutions while promoting behavioral change among road users. Implementation of National Road Safety Action Plan aligned UN Decade of Action for Road Safety is also a key pillar of our approach. We therefore welcome today's adoption of progress declaration of the high-level meeting on improving road— global road safety as an important international milestone and look forward to implementing it. Your Excellencies, Kenya remains fully committed to delivering safer roads through stronger partnership, smarter technologies, safer infrastructure, effective enforcement, and sustained public education. And at the core of this approach is partnership, where we look forward to continued collaboration with all of you and ensure a safer road for all. Together, through shared commitment and global cooperation, we can save lives, protect livelihoods, build safer, more sustainable transport systems for the present and future generations. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kenya. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Japan welcomes the adoption of the progress declaration which emphasizes stronger governance and evidence-based action with accountability through follow-up and monitoring. Road safety is a matter of the utmost importance to Japan as a dimension of human well-being and sustainable development. Over the past decades, Japan has achieved a substantial reduction in road traffic fatalities by comprehensively addressing road safety, focusing on human vehicles and mobility systems and the road environment. This progress has been achieved through a sustained whole-of-government approach grounded in clear legal mandates, institutionalized coordination across ministries and the level of government Supported by the active engagement of the private sector and civil society. As a result, Japan now records the lowest level of road traffic fatalities in its history. Japan's approach rests on 3 mutually reinforcing pillars. The first is a robust governance framework. Japan's road safety system is anchored in the Basic Act on Traffic Safety Measures, which defines responsibilities across all levels of government and provides a legal basis for successive 5-year national plans and provides— which defines the responsibilities of government and provides legal basis for successive 5-year national plans. The National Council for Traffic Safety Measures, chaired by the Prime Minister, ensures high-level political leadership and cross-ministerial coordination. Fostering shared responsibility to translate national policy into concrete measures at both national and subnational levels. Japan's 12th Traffic Safety Basic Plan, launched in April this year, is grounded in this framework and sets forth targets and measures through 2030, adapted to new societal challenges including emerging demographic and technical changes. The second is evidence-based policymaking. Structured data collection and analysis enables the identification of risk, targeted interventions, and measurement of outcomes. The third is a human-centered approach to traffic safety, supported by lifelong traffic safety education and public awareness raising. As society and the mobility environment become increasingly diverse and complex, Japan is placing greater emphasis on tailored measures that reflect the different needs, behaviors, and the risk of road users, including older persons, children, pedestrians, cyclists, users of new forms of mobility, and foreign visitors and residents. Reflecting this approach, in partnership with subnational governments, civil societies, the Government of Japan has promoted nationwide road safety campaigns. In closing, Japan remains fully committed to advancing global road safety through the utmost collective efforts of the government and private sector.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Japan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the government and the people of the Republic of Sierra Leone, I extend our profound gratitude to the President of the General Assembly for convening this important high-level meeting under the theme Scaling Up and Accelerating Implementation of Commitment to Halving Road Traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. The theme is both timely and urgent. With less than 4 years until 2030, this is a moment of accountability. It requires us to assess whether our actions at the national, regional, continental, and global level have been translated to safer roads for all users. Sierra Leone aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the African group, the African Union has demonstrated leadership by positioning member states to domesticate and implement the Africa Road Safety Charter in line with its Agenda 2063. In West Africa in particular, the ECOWAS Road Safety Charter is enforced, which is in line with the group's Vision 2050. Madam President, Sierra Leone remains fully committed to the global target of halving road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030, as articulated in SDG 3.6 and the Global Plan for a Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030. Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, outgoing Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, and coordinator of the Africa Union Committee of 10 on UN Security Council reform, road safety has been integrated into our Medium-Term National Development Plan 2024-2030. This plan prioritizes human capital development, youth empowerment, and inclusive growth. We recognize that these gains will be eroded if we fail to address preventable deaths and injury on our roads. We therefore welcome the political declaration at this higher-level meeting. Sierra Leone reaffirms its commitment to provide safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all. We call for strengthening regional and continental mechanisms to support member states, particularly in low- and medium-income countries. to reduce the vulnerability to road traffic injuries. We urge the international community and development partners to provide technical and financial support for the full implementation of the Decade of Action and related instruments, including the Marrakesh Declaration. Madam President, Sierra Leone remains committed to the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety, 2021 to 2030.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Serbia.

Thank you.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished delegates, on behalf of the Republic of Serbia, I would like to reaffirm our strong commitment to improving global road safety and achieving the targets of the second decade of action. Serbia fully supports the global road safety framework established through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety, and the relevant United Nations resolutions. Our national road safety policy is based on the safe system approach and on the principle that no death or serious injury on our roads is acceptable. In line with this vision, Serbia's National Road Safety Strategy 2023-2030 sets ambitious goals to reduce road traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 50% by 2030 and to achieve Vision Zero for children, with the ultimate objective that no child loses their life in road traffic. In the past decade, Serbia has been building highways with highest safety standards, but what we realize is that protecting children and vulnerable road users requires more than legislation and infrastructure. Serbia therefore invests continuously in road safety education, awareness campaigns, and preventive programs. We help children develop safe behavior from an early age and create a strong road safety culture for future generations.

Thank you.

Effective governance and multisectoral coordination are at the core of our efforts. National Road Safety Coordination Body established by the government brings together 7 ministries and the Road Traffic Safety Agency, ensuring action across all relevant sectors. This cooperation is further strengthened through partnership with academia, local authorities, civil society organizations, international partners, and the private sector. Evidence-based policymaking guides our actions. Serbia has developed an integrated national road safety database, geolocated and publicly available. It's run by Road Traffic Safety Agency and it covers all local self-government units, enabling systematic monitoring of road safety performance, identification of risks, and evaluation of the effectiveness of implemented measures. Over the longer term, Serbia has recorded a positive trend in reducing road traffic fatalities. Annual fatalities have declined decline from around 900 before the adoption of the Law on Traffic Safety in 2009 to 599 in 2015 and 488 in 2025, despite the number of registered vehicles increasing from approximately 1.8 million to more than 3.1 million. Nevertheless, further efforts are needed to achieve our 2030 targets. Behind the data, behind every number, is a person, a family member, a trend, which is why we work towards Vision Zero. Every death on our roads is unacceptable. Therefore, Serbia remains committed to working together with all partners to accelerate progress towards safer mobility, because every life saved is a shared success. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Serbia. I now give the floor to the distinguished distinguished representative of Nigeria.

Thank you, Madam President. It is my singular honor to present the commitment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in advancing global road safety. Guided by Marrakesh Declaration 2025, Nigeria remains resolute in accelerating the implementation of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030. Deeply concerned by the findings of the WHO Global Status Report on Road Safety, which identified Africa as the region with the highest road safety fatality rate, Nigeria has reinvigorated the implementation of the Nigerian Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. This whole government multi-sectoral strategy enjoys the full support of the federal government and is coordinated through the National Road Safety Advisory Council chaired by the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Following Nigeria's accession to the 6th United Nations Convention, we have strengthened fleet safety and reinforce evidence-based road safety management through the National Crash Reporting Information System, NCRIS, while enhancing post-crash care with a state-of-the-art National Emergency Call Center and a 24-hour ambulance service to ensure prompt response to crashes. Nigeria also launched Nigeria Road Assessment Program, Nigeria RAP, in partnership with International Road Safety Assessment Program, IRAP, to advance the safe system approach and improve road infrastructure safety. Nigeria is equally privileged to host the Secretariat of the African Association of Road Safety Lead Agencies, ASLA, providing a platform for continental collaboration, knowledge exchange and sharing, and institutional strengthening among Africa's road safety institutions. In line with our commitment to sustainable mobility, Nigeria is implementing the presidential initiative on compressed natural gas and electric vehicles while developing robust safety standards for heavy goods vehicles and emerging transport technologies. While Nigeria has recorded significant progress, important gaps remain, particularly intelligent enforcement technologies, road infrastructure, safety assessment, and institutional capacity development. Nigeria therefore calls upon the international community to strengthen technical cooperation, facilitate technology transfer, and support sustainable capacity building initiatives to accelerate the achievement of our shared road safety goals and vision. Nigeria remains steadfast in making road safety a national priority. We reaffirm our support I thank you all for the outcomes of this meeting and pledge to continue working with partners to build safer roads, save more lives, and—

I thank the distinguished representative of Nigeria. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union, speaking on behalf of the EU and its member states.

President, Excellencies, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its member states. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia, as well as Armenia, Andorra, San Marino, and the United Kingdom aligned themselves with this statement. We thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this important high-level meeting on improving global road safety. We also express our sincere appreciation to the co-facilitators, the Permanent Representatives of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Slovak Republic, for their dedicated efforts in guiding the negotiations towards a consensus-based progress declaration. The EU and its member states are pleased to support the adoption of the progress declaration today, and we remain firmly committed To the global target of halving road traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. Achieving this objective requires ambition, accountability, and effective implementation. Every day, more than 3,500 people lose their lives on the world's roads, while tens of millions more suffer injuries that often have lifelong consequences. Road traffic accidents remain one of the leading causes of death among children and young adults worldwide and disproportionately affect vulnerable road users, and low- and middle-income countries. These tragedies are preventable. They require sustained political commitment, effective policies, and collective action at all levels. The EU would like to highlight 3 priorities. First, while human error is inevitable, deaths and serious injuries are not. Road transport systems must be designed to anticipate human mistakes and ensure that they do not result in fatal or life-changing consequences. Experience has shown that lasting progress depends on comprehensive action. Safer infrastructure, high vehicle safety standards, appropriate speed management, effective enforcement of traffic rules, high-quality post-accident care, and evidence-based policymaking must all work together. Second, road safety is a shared responsibility. Governments, local authorities, civil society, the private sector, academia, and international organizations all have an essential role to play. No country can address this challenge alone. International cooperation, knowledge sharing, and strong multilateral partnerships remain indispensable for accelerating progress worldwide. The EU is committed to strengthening cooperation with the UN, the WHO, the UN Regional Commissions, and other international partners to promote the implementation of global road safety standards and support capacity building where it is needed most. Through the Global Gateway strategy, and other international partnerships, the EU supports sustainable transport infrastructure that integrates road safety from the earliest stages of planning and design. We also invest in technical assistance, institutional capacity building, and knowledge exchange to help partner countries develop effective and sustainable road safety systems. Finally, innovation and digital transformation offer significant opportunities to improve road safety. Connected mobility, intelligent transport systems, artificial intelligence, and better use of data can contribute to safer roads, more effective traffic management, and improved emergency response. At the same time, technology must complement, not replace, strong institutions, sound legislation, and responsible road user behavior. Particular attention must continue to be given to vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities. Safe mobility should be accessible to everyone, and transport systems must be designed with the needs of all users in mind. President, colleagues, this high-level meeting should reinforce our collective determination to implement the commitments we have made. The lives behind these statistics remind us that road safety is ultimately about protecting people, strengthening communities, and promoting sustainable development. The EU stands ready to work with all partners to accelerate implementation, share experience, and mobilize the political will necessary to achieve our common objective: roads that are safe for everyone, everywhere. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the European Union. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Canada, speaking also on behalf of CANZUS.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I have the honor to deliver the statement on behalf of Australia, New Zealand, and my own country, Canada. We thank the United Nations, the President of the General Assembly, the World Health Organization, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, and all partners for convening this important high-level meeting on improving global road safety. Road safety is a public health, economic, and sustainable development priority. Every death and serious injury on our roads is preventable and carries profound consequences for individuals, families, communities, and societies. As we enter the second half of the Decade of Action for Road Safety, we must accelerate progress if we are to achieve the global target of reducing road traffic deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand will do our part to help achieve that goal. We welcome the Declaration's focus on leadership, accountability, data, financing, implementation, and international cooperation. Meaningful progress will depend on sustained action grounded in evidence. While progress has been made, road traffic deaths and serious injuries continue to have devastating impacts on individuals, families, and communities. These challenges reinforce the need for renewed action, sustained investment, and strong partnerships. Our 3 countries continue to advance national road safety strategies grounded in the safe system approach and the long-term vision that no death, or serious injury on our roads is acceptable. Canada's Road Safety Strategy 2035+, Australia's New Road Safety Strategy 2021 to 2030, and New Zealand's Road Safety Objectives all recognize that while human error is inevitable, deaths and serious injuries are not. Across our countries, governments are working with regional and local authorities authorities, Indigenous communities, law enforcement, public health organizations, researchers, industry, and civil society partners to deliver better road safety outcomes. We recognize that road safety is a shared responsibility requiring action across all levels of government and society. We continue to support evidence-based measures to address key risk factors including impaired driving, fatigue, speeding, and distracted driving, while responding to emerging challenges across transportation systems. Data, research, and innovation remain central to our efforts. We are strengthening road safety data systems to better identify risks, measure performance, and support evidence-based decision-making. We appreciate the adoption of the Progress Declaration, which will help drive progress towards our collective road safety goals. That said, we are discouraged that it was not possible to adopt this resolution by consensus. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have worked closely together throughout the negotiations of this declaration and on broader multilateral road safety efforts. We believe that international cooperation, shared expertise, and mutual learning are essential to accelerating progress and supporting implementation across all regions. As we enter the second half of the Decade of Action for Road Safety, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand will play our part and work with partners to strengthen implementation and save lives. Together, we can accelerate progress and build safer roads for everyone. Thank you.

Merci.

I thank the distinguished representative of Canada. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Egypt.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, our meeting comes at a very critical moment in the Second decade of action for road safety. While there continues to be a gap between international commitments and progress achieved toward the objective of halving road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030, which requires us to move from political commitments to actual implementation according to measurable objectives and clear follow-up mechanisms. Ladies and gentlemen, Egypt has adopted a comprehensive approach to enhance road safety that is based on improving infrastructure, enhancing institutional coordination, the National Project for Roads, and developing the bridges and improving infrastructure of existing roads, enhance connectivity across the country, and to prevent bottlenecks and traffic jams across the country. We continue to use intelligent systems and use technology in management of traffic and for enforcement, supporting also emergency and post-accident services. We reiterate that safety on roads requires a comprehensive approach that includes the safe design of roads, the safety of vehicles, as well as control on speed, as well as care after accidents. We need to give priority to 4 pathways in this sense. First, provide sustainable and affordable financing to countries to develop infrastructure and implement their national road safety strategies. Second, enhance technology transfer and build capacities of developing countries, particularly in smart transport as well as data systems and weak response frameworks. Support the development of data systems at the national level to understand the reasons for accidents and channel resources to address them. Fourth, enhance coordination among the international organizations, the governments, as well as civil society organizations and the private sector. Support for the African Union Observatory for road safety that is a platform for exchanging expertise, particularly with the Charter— the African Charter on Road Safety has become effective this year, which is the first African framework in this regard. We believe that improving road safety requires political will and sufficient funding, as well as international cooperation that takes into consideration the needs of developing countries to interpret and translate commitments into actions that save lives and do not leave anyone behind. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Egypt. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kazakhstan.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Kazakhstan welcomes the high-level meeting and the progress declaration on improving global road safety. We firmly believe that road safety must be a long-term national priority supported by civil society and private sector. In alignment with global plan for the second decade of action for road safety, Kazakhstan is implementing an integrated safe system approach. The Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan has enacted a comprehensive interagency action plan up till 2030. It provides the systemic measures ranging from healthcare infrastructure development and professional staff training to strengthening interagency coordination and maximizing the efficiency of crash responses. Next year, Kazakhstan will launch a new national road safety strategy. This landmark document aims to reduce road mortality by at least 30% within 5 years. This strategy will introduce mandatory road safety audits and inspections at all stages, from initial design and planning to daily operation and maintenance. Kazakhstan has successfully reduced its road traffic mortality by 8.5% over the past 3 years. In 2025 alone, the fatality rate in Kazakhstan decreased by almost 10%. Central to this success is our rigorous adherence to the Golden Hour principle. Currently, accident victims are delivered to specialized medical facilities within an average of 34 minutes. It plays a crucial role in saving lives and mitigating trauma severity. Our digital ecosystem serves as the technological backbone for these ongoing reforms. The smart traffic control and video monitoring system, which proved its efficiency in major cities, has been now scaled nationwide. To align our efforts with global standards, Kazakhstan launched a national road assessment program in close partnership with international road assessment program, the Kazakh Road Safety Research Institute is evaluating our infrastructure using the STAR rating system to bring our roads to a safer level. Additionally, Kazakhstan has joined the UN Global Information Campaign, Make a Safety Statement. It fosters further a national culture of safe behavior on the roads. Kazakhstan reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the UN targets. Our new national strategy, combined with cutting-edge technologies and robust interagency cooperation, will form the foundation of a resilient, sustainable system dedicated to achieving our shared goal: reducing by half road deaths and injuries by 2030. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kazakhstan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Paraguay.

Muchas gracias, señora. Thank you very much, Madam President. The Republic of Paraguay welcomes the convening of this high-level meeting. We recognize the importance of strengthening collective action in order to prevent road accidents and to promote safer mobility for all. Road safety represents a pressing issue for public health and for the protection of life. Its social and economic consequences transcend the lives of those directly affected as it also impacts families, communities, Cognizant of this reality, the government of Paraguay has decided to make road safety a national priority. On June 23rd of this year, the President of the Republic of Paraguay enacted Law Number 7676/26. This declares a national emergency situation in terms of road safety across the country. This decision will make it possible for the government to take possible to accelerate the implementation of comprehensive measures aimed at prevention, inspection, and control with a view to reducing road accidents. Under this framework, the National Transport and Road Safety Agency will be in charge of implementing operational and technical actions. This includes the use of technological tools to strengthen and checks, coordination with competent institutions, as well as rolling out awareness campaigns and road safety education aimed at drivers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. Paraguay is convinced that reducing road accidents is only possible through solid institutions, sustained public policies, and the coordinated involvement of all sectors of society. We also value international cooperation, technical assistance, and the exchange of experiences and good practices. These are fundamental instruments for complementing and strengthening national efforts in this area. Madam President, distinguished colleagues, the government of Paraguay reaffirms its commitment continue working to prevent road accidents, to promote safer mobility, and to protecting the lives of all. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Paraguay. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.

President, China welcomes the convening of this meeting jointly by the General Assembly and the World Health Organization. At present, road traffic accidents claim approximately 1.1 million lives annually. 1.9 million lives worldwide each year, about 3,200 lives every day, and roughly 2 lives every minute. Countless others suffer injuries and disabilities. The resulting economic losses average around 3% of GDP across countries and in some cases nearly offset an entire year's economic growth. These staggering figures remind us once again that road traffic accidents are not only a major public health and social safety issue, but also a sustainable development challenge which requires serious attention, systematic governance, and coordinated action. China advocates building a comprehensive road safety system and offers hereby 3 recommendations. First, develop and ensure safe transport infrastructure, as major— many developing countries still have room for improvement in infrastructure development and maintenance. The international community should provide them corresponding support. Second, establish sound legal and regulatory frameworks to effectively regulate and guide road user behavior. Third, foster a strong culture of road safety by continuously promoting public education on safe travel so that risk awareness, law abidance, and joint contribution to and shared benefits From safe travel become collective action. As a major transportation country, China consistently puts people and life first, balances safety and development, and continues to improve road safety. China has incorporated road traffic injury prevention into national plans such as the Healthy China 2030 blueprint. It has integrated injury prevention and control into policy frameworks across sectors and established a nationwide injury surveillance network thereby minimizing road traffic fatalities and disabilities to the extent— greatest extent possible. China is also an active contributor to global road safety efforts. President Xi Jinping has proposed the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, which through concrete actions help developing countries accelerate connectivity and improve road safety. China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with WHO and other international organizations support transportation capacity building in developing countries and make greater contributions towards achieving the Global Road Safety Goal under the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. I thank you, President.

I thank the distinguished representative of China.

I now give the floor to the distinguished representative

Excellencies, the Philippines welcomes the adoption of the Progress Declaration on Improving Global Road Safety and reaffirms its steadfast commitment in making our roads safer for all. Road traffic injuries remain one of the world's leading public health and development challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Beyond the tragic loss of lives, road crashes place immense strain on health systems, impede economic growth, and disproportionately affect the most vulnerable and at risk, including children, older persons, persons with disabilities, cyclists, motorcyclists, and low-income communities. Guided by the, by the Global Plan, For the Decade of Action for Road Safety, the Philippines launched its Road Safety Action Plan 2023 to 2028, which seeks to reduce road traffic deaths and serious injuries by 35% by 2028. The action plan is anchored on 5 strategic pillars. 1, strengthening road safety management through improved governance, data systems, and stakeholder engagement. 2, investing in safer, more inclusive, and climate resilient road infrastructure, including safe school zones and accessible facilities. 3, enhancing vehicle safety through stricter inspection systems and harmonized standards. 4, promoting safer road user behavior through stronger enforcement, road safety education, and sustained public awareness. And 5, improving emergency medical trauma rehabilitation and post-crash response services. We continue to strengthen road safety governance through enhanced cross-sectoral coordination, recognizing that safer roads require a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach that engages the private sector, civil society, and communities. We are likewise strengthening traffic enforcement, modernizing driver licensing and vehicle inspection systems, and expanding digital enforcement initiatives. In November 2022, the Philippines acceded to the UN 1958 Agreement on vehicle regulations to further align national vehicle safety standards with international UN regulations. We value our close cooperation with the WHO, UNICEF, and the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety in advancing evidence-based, people-centered solutions. At the global level, the Philippines supports stronger international cooperation, particularly in capacity building, technology transfer, data systems and sustainable financing for low- and middle-income countries to accelerate progress towards safer mobility. Excellencies, the true measure of our commitment will not only be the declaration we just adopted, but the lives we save and protect. Let us match our shared ambition with sustained action so that safe mobility becomes a reality for all. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Philippines. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.

Madam President, Russia has been consistent in its advocacy for enhancing international efforts to ensure road safety. We're proud of the fact that this issue has been among the chief priorities of the UN agenda. After all, it was our country in particular in 2011 that initiated the holding of the first ministerial conference on road safety in Moscow that laid the ground for forming a machinery of international cooperation in this area. We welcome the fact that this work is ongoing ongoing today as well, already in the context of the second decade for action on road safety in the period up to 2030. We trust that today's meeting will be an additional contribution toward further advancing this agenda. Russia has significant expert capacity in terms of enhancing road safety, and we are prepared to share it with all interested partners. Our country is a donor to the United Nations Road Safety Fund. With Russian financing support, a number of projects have already been implemented to curb mortality on the roads in the states of Central Asia. Speaking of national efforts, we want to note that the strengthening of road safety has been among the key priorities of state policy in Russia and is among the national development goals of our country. November of last year saw our President Putin adopt a corresponding strategy. It covered the period through 2030 and for the period beyond that to 2036. The document sets out a goal of decreasing by a factor of 1.5 the deaths in crashes by 2030, and we want to halve those deaths compared to 2023 levels by 2036. What's more, in May of this year, the Russian government adopted a plan for implementation of this strategy, which consists of a set of 266 measures. These seek to improve state administration in terms of road safety. The adoption of this strategy made— took road safety to a qualitatively new level, laying the ground for consolidation of political, financial, and staffing resources for achieving the aforementioned goals. Its implementation will allow us to build on existing gains and ensure a further reduction of road crashes. Most importantly, it will protect human lives and the health of our citizens. Today we can note that the Russian Federation is moving confidently toward the aforementioned milestones drawing on systemic changes and a comprehensive interagency approach. I thank you.

Distinguished representative of the Russian Federation, I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Zimbabwe.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. Road safety is fundamentally a development and public health issue. Every serious road crash places immense pressure on emergency medical services, trauma care, rehabilitation systems, and national health budgets. Beyond the tragic loss of life, road traffic injuries diminish economic productivity, disrupt families, and undermine sustainable development. Reducing road traffic deaths and injuries is therefore integral to strengthening resilient health systems and advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as Zimbabwe's Vision 2030. Despite progress in global road safety, fatalities remain unacceptably high. In Zimbabwe, a traffic crash occurs approximately every 15 minutes, More than 35,000 crashes are recorded annually, resulting in over 1,800 deaths and more than 10,000 injuries. Behind these statistics are lives lost, livelihoods disrupted, and national potential diminished. For many developing countries, these challenges are compounded by inadequate infrastructure, limited fiscal space, and the growing impact of climate change on climate— on transport networks. Road safety must therefore be pursued alongside investments in sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure. In response, Zimbabwe is implementing comprehensive institutional and legislative reforms guided by its National Development Strategy and the recommendations of the Road Safety Performance Review. We are strengthening enforcement, modernizing transport systems, and enhancing public awareness and education. An integrated road traffic authority will soon be established to strengthen regulation and oversight. Zimbabwe is also developing smart technologies to improve road safety compliance, aligning its regulatory framework with international standards and operationalizing a road traffic fund— road accident fund to support post-crash medical care and survivors. Zimbabwe believes that road safety must be recognized as an integral component sustainable infrastructure financing. Investment in transport systems should be measured not only by the roads we build but by the lives we save. We therefore call for predictable financing, capacity building, and technology transfer to support nationally determined road safety priorities, particularly in developing countries. Zimbabwe remains committed to achieving SDG Target 3.6 and implementing the United Nations Decade of action for road safety. Together, let us build transport systems that are safe, resilient, and inclusive for all.

I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Zimbabwe. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mauritius.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. The Republic of Mauritius fully aligns itself with the global target to halve road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. Road safety remains a national priority for the Government of Mauritius. Mauritius recognizes that every life lost or injury sustained inflict severe, long-lasting social and economic consequences. Over the past 18 months, Mauritius has strengthened its legislative and enforcement frameworks on multiple fronts. Following the constructive visit of Mr. Jean Todt, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, in April 2025, we officially launched the UN Global Campaign for road safety in Mauritius. Guided by his advice, we are currently reviewing our legislation regarding motorcycle helmet standards to better protect two-wheeler riders who are among the most vulnerable road users. We have successfully reintroduced the penalty point system to deter reckless driving. This system will adapt dynamically, utilizing data-driven adjustments to maximize road safety. Regulations have also been promulgated to strictly monitor oversized structures used in public processions. In our continuous effort to modernize enforcement, we are transitioning from standard automated speed cameras to advanced integrated safe city cameras. At the same time, legislative amendments are underway to allow for the impoundment of vehicles when drivers are found operating under influence of drugs or alcohol. And a legal framework will soon be established in regard to electric cycles and scooters. Guided by the Safe System Approach, Mauritius is also finalizing its National Road Safety Strategy 2026-2030. The strategy will provide for an evidence-based framework aimed at reducing road traffic fatalities through strengthened institutional coordination, safer infrastructure, safer vehicles, and enhanced post-crash response. It will also embed robust road safety education into our primary and secondary school curricula. Madam President, achieving the ambitious target of the second decade of action requires sustainable financing technological innovation, and robust capacity building. For SIDS in particular, continued international cooperation, technical assistance, knowledge sharing, and targeted financial support remain indispensable. Mauritius stands ready to share its own experience, adopt global best practices, and strengthen international—

I thank the distinguished representative of Mauritius. We have heard the last speaker for this meeting. We shall hear the remaining speakers tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 PM in this hall. Members are reminded that Panel Discussions 1 and 2 will take place tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM respectively in the Trusteeship Council Chamber. The meeting is adjourned.