Latest news with #EtienneKrug
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Health Talk: Why it's important to make walking and cycling safe
Last week, the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week kicked off around the world under the theme 'Make walking and cycling safe'. For governments to observe a week dedicated to safe walking and cycling is of immense need. According to data shared by the World Health Organisation (WHO), each year, nearly 1.2 million people lose their lives on the roads, more than a quarter of them while walking or cycling. In the WHO South-East Asia Region, pedestrian deaths rose by 42%; in the European Region, cyclist deaths surged by 50%; and in the Western Pacific Region, cyclist deaths soared by 88%. Yet, the UN health body said, only 0.2% of the roads worldwide are equipped with cycle lanes, and far too many communities lack basics like sidewalks or safe pedestrian crossings— a problem that is acute for a country like India that has almost zero sidewalks or cycling tracks. And enough stress can't be put on the positive impact of simple activities such as walking and cycling on improving overall health. 'Walking and cycling improve health and make cities more sustainable. Every step and every ride help to cut congestion, air pollution, and disease,' said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, in a statement. 'But we must make walking and cycling safe, so more people choose these healthier, greener options.' In a 2024 study— Health benefits of pedestrian and cyclist commuting: evidence from the Scottish Longitudinal Study— published in BMJ, authors inferred active commuters were less likely to suffer from a range of negative physical and mental health outcomes than non-active commuters. In fact, data showed, compared with non-active commuting, cyclist commuting was associated with lower all-cause mortality risk, of any hospitalisation, of cardiovascular disease (CVD) hospitalisation, of cancer mortality and cancer hospitalisation, and lower risk of having a prescription for mental health problems. In addition, pedestrian commuting was associated with lower risk of any hospitalisation, of CVD hospitalisation, and of a mental health prescription. As a solution, the WHO has launched a new toolkit to help governments promote active mobility – by making it safer. It can work as a guidance document for policymakers, urban planners, health advocates, and civil society in general. Among the actions recommended in the tool-kit include integrating walking and cycling into transport, health, environmental and education policies; building safe infrastructure like sidewalks, crossings and protected cycle lanes; setting and enforcing safer speed limits aligned with global best practices; promoting safe road use through public awareness and behaviour change campaigns; and using financial incentives to encourage active mobility. 'It is urgent to make, what should be our most natural means of transport, safer. This is paramount for road safety, but also health, equity and climate,' said Etienne Krug, director of the WHO department for the social determinants of health, in a statement. 'We're calling on all sectors – transport, health, education and beyond – to make walking and cycling safe and accessible for everyone.'
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
‘We Can Do Better' For Pedestrian And Cyclist Safety Worldwide
10 May 2025 These are the exact sort of urban initiatives which the UN Global Road Safety Week – kicking off on Monday – aims to celebrate and promote. First established in 2007, this year's week is dedicated to the theme 'Make walking and cycling safe.' ' Walking and cycling should be the most ordinary, and therefore, the safest mode of transport,' said Dr. Etienne Krug, who chairs the group known as the UN Road Safety Collaboration and directs the World Health Organization's efforts to tackle social and economic conditions which impact human health. Stats tell a story In September 2020, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution which established the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 and set a goal to reduce road traffic deaths by at least 50 percent by the end of the decade. While progress has been made, WHO says that more action is needed across all policy sectors. Each year, 1.2 million people are killed in road traffic incidents, with pedestrians and cyclists accounting for over one-quarter of these deaths. These deaths are not distributed equally around the world. Rather, 90 per cent of road traffic deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Moreover, the UN estimates that at least 90 per cent of the world's roads do not meet pedestrian safety standards and only 0.2 per cent of roads have dedicated cycle lanes, leaving pedestrians and bikers dangerously exposed. A holistic approach Improving pedestrian and cyclist safety has far-reaching benefits for communities, in terms of health, economic and environmental outcomes. 'Walking and cycling improve health and make cities more sustainable. Every step and every ride [helps] to cut congestion, air pollution and disease,' said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. Take, for example, Fortaleza in Brazil - the five-fold expansion of their cycling network led to a 109 per cent increase in pedestrian activity and made children twice as likely to play outside in the areas that were redesigned. In Norway, the Fyllingsdalstunnelen tunnel which is decorated with murals and protected by security cameras works to reduce carbon emissions and encourage walking and cycling. To support the continuation of improvements like these during UN Road Safety Week, WHO has provided policy-makers with a toolkit outlining tangible initiatives which include integrating walking and cycling initiatives into other policy sectors and building more extensive infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. 'We need [to] and we can do better,' Dr Krug said.
Forbes
12-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
As Cycling And Walking Deaths Surge, Safety Experts Urge ‘Bold Action'
In the European Region, cyclist deaths surged by 50%, according to the World Health Organization. ... More When bicycle lanes aren't protected, cyclists can get hurt and even killed by car doors that are opened suddenly. Every year, nearly 1.2 million people globally lose their lives on the roads, and as many as 50 million more are seriously injured. More than 1 of every 4 deaths occur among pedestrians and cyclists – in the European region alone, cyclist deaths surged by 50% – but only 0.2% of the roads worldwide are equipped with cycle lanes, and many communities around the world lack basic safety infrastructure like sidewalks or pedestrian crossings. Those are just a few of the sober realities highlighted during the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week, which kicked off on Monday and continues through May 18th. 'Walking and cycling help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer – leading causes of premature death,' Etienne Krug, director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Department for the Social Determinants of Health, told Forbes. These most natural means of transport, he said, 'also curb air pollution, reduce traffic congestion and help fight climate change. Yet for communities to reap all these gains, we must first make walking and cycling safe. 'This is why we're calling for more urgent action,' Dr. Krug said, 'and why we're releasing a new policy toolkit to do exactly that.' This week the WHO, the lead road safety agency for the United Nations, joins hundreds of organizations and governments worldwide to promote a shift to more walking and cycling and to make it safer and more accessible. Under the theme 'Make walking and cycling safe,' the WHO launched 'Promoting walking and cycling: a toolkit of policy options' that presents practical guidelines and interventions designed for all sectors – from governments at all levels, international agencies, and urban planners to health advocates, businesses and schools. Included are case studies that showcase real-world examples of how these policy options are being successfully put into practice. Dr. Krug answered questions for Forbes about the 8th edition of the UN global road safety week and the new toolkit. His responses were edited for clarity and length. Forbes: Why is walking and cycling safety the focus this year? Dr. Krug:. At least one pedestrian or cyclist is killed on the world's roads every 2 minutes. More than a quarter (26%) of the 1.2 million annual road traffic deaths occur among people moving by foot (21%) or bicycle (5%), yet 80% of the world's roads don't meet pedestrian safety standards and less than 1% have cycle lanes. In addition, the danger faced by those who walk and cycle is rising in many regions. Between 2011 and 2021: What are some highlights of this year's programming? Hundreds of events are being planned around the world. The Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety, YOURS: Youth for Road Safety and several other partners are hosting events in many countries. They are also promoting use of a set of technical tools that allow people to document their experiences walking and cycling in their neighborhoods and bringing any potential dangers to the attention of local authorities. We have seen instances of this exposure leading to immediate and substantive changes, for example, to the infrastructure around specific intersections or around schools. We are also promoting continued attention to what works to prevent road traffic deaths, including among those who walk and cycle: better laws and law enforcement, in particular around speeding, drinking and driving and using mobile phones while driving; better vehicle design, including anti-lock braking systems; better road infrastructure, such as sidewalks, crosswalks and protected bicycle lanes; and better emergency trauma care systems. What is the goal of the new WHO toolkit? 'Promoting walking and cycling: a toolkit of policy options' calls for bold action to advance and foster safe walking and cycling. It sets out seven areas where change is needed and possible - providing guidance to policy-makers, practitioners and advocates. Examples of actions all countries and cities can implement include: setting strong frameworks by integrating walking and cycling into all relevant policy areas; investing in building safe, connected networks for walking and cycling; setting street design standards to ensure safe design and infrastructure such as sidewalks, crosswalks and protected bike lanes; ensuring safe road use by setting and enforcing safe speeds for motor-vehicles; and promoting safety through public awareness campaigns and to encourage active mobility. What is the big take-a-way? Walking and cycling should be the most ordinary and therefore the safest modes of transport. Leaders must prioritize making walking and cycling safe, above all, to save lives on the roads. When these modes are safe, they will also help us reap all the health, environmental and economic gains that flow from more safe walking and cycling. Many countries are taking steps in the right direction, prioritizing our right to safe mobility. Governments must continue to rethink mobility, improving safety so that people are able to make more healthy and sustainable transport choices. For more information, click here. To access the full report, click here.
