Road safety: a Red Cross / Red Crescent concern

In nearly every country and for nearly all of its history, the Red Cross and Red Crescent has addressed the needs of vulnerable road users: the victims of road accidents, the poor, pedestrians, children, cyclists, motorcyclists, users of public transport etc. Most recently, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' own 1998 World Disaster Report was instrumental in raising global awareness regarding the scale of the road safety problem: the large number of deaths, injuries and economic costs. It calls road accidents "a worsening global disaster destroying lives and livelihoods, hampering development and leaving millions in greater vulnerability."

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have key competencies in the following main areas:

• National Societies provide a forum for helping to prevent road crashes through cooperation with governments, private sector and communities;
• National Societies ensure assistance to victims through First Aid posts, information and training, ambulance services, psychological support and social assistance programmes;
• National Societies contribute to efforts to improve the road safety environment through road safety awareness campaigns for decision-makers, drivers and for the population at large.

Due to its unique position, the Red Cross / Red Crescent can act as a federative platform, bringing together the players in the road safety field.

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