8th UN Global Road Safety Week 2025: Prioritizing Safer Streets for Walkers and Cyclists

Global Movement to Protect Non-Motorized Road Users

8th UN Global Road Safety Week 2025: Prioritizing Safer Streets for Walkers and Cyclists: From May 12 to 18, 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN agencies are leading the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week, spotlighting the need for safer roads for pedestrians and cyclists. This year’s campaign promotes the hashtags #MakeWalkingSafe and #MakeCyclingSafe, emphasizing infrastructure reforms and stricter law enforcement to better protect those who travel on foot or by bicycle.

Why the Week is Critical for Public Health

Road crashes remain one of the top 10 causes of death globally, especially among young people aged 5 to 29. This awareness week reinforces the objectives of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030), which seeks to halve traffic-related deaths and injuries by 2030. Improved planning, public engagement, and policy changes form the foundation of this global effort.

Key Focus Areas of the 2025 Campaign

The initiative pushes for urban policies that include dedicated lanes for cyclists and pedestrians, speed limits capped at 30 km/h in residential and high-density areas, and enhanced street lighting to reduce night-time accidents. It also urges governments to integrate road safety into broader sustainable development policies, ensuring mobility systems that are equitable and health-conscious.

Digital Engagement and Community Participation

Through active social media outreach using the official hashtags, the campaign is sparking global dialogue. Platforms like Instagram and Twitter are seeing story chains, virtual mobility challenges, and local awareness drives. This digital momentum is increasing public pressure on authorities to invest in road safety infrastructure and take non-motorized commuters seriously.

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8th UN Global Road Safety Week 2025: Prioritizing Safer Streets for Walkers and Cyclists: