UN Calls for Stop the Crash safety systems to be fitted as standard

19 April 2016

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution which represents the strongest ever commitment on road safety made by UN Member States. The resolution supports the ambitious road safety targets now included in the Global Goals for Sustainable Development and also the Global Plan of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020) which provides an integrated and holistic framework for road injury prevention.

It invites Member States that have not already done so to:

"Consider adopting policies and measures to implement United Nations vehicle safety regulations or equivalent national standards to ensure that all new motor vehicles, meet applicable minimum regulations for occupant and other road users protection, with seat belts, air bags and active safety systems fitted as standard."

The resolution builds upon the 'Brasilia Declaration' passed by the 2nd Global High Level Conference on Road Safety held on 18th -19th November 2015 in Brasilia and endorses the standard fitment of active safety systems which are the primary focus of the Stop the Crash Partnership. Active safety systems refer to vehicle technologies which rather than protecting people during a crash can avoid the crash from happening at all. The most important of these are:

• Electronic Stability Control - ESC is the most significant advance in vehicle safety since the introduction of the seat belt and one of the most important crash avoidance systems currently available.
• Autonomous Emergency Braking - AEB is an advanced safety technology that can help drivers avoid or mitigate collisions with other vehicles or vulnerable road users.
• ABS for Motorcycles - ABS for motorcycles prevents wheel lock-up and ensures bike stability as well as optimal deceleration while braking.

The Stop the Crash Partnership warmly welcomes the General Assembly's recognition of the vital contribution that crash avoidance technologies can play in contributing to the United nation's ambitious goal to halve road deaths and injuries by 2020.

David Ward, Chairman of the Stop the Crash Partnership said, "Today's UN resolution is a significant step forward in vehicle and road safety. The Stop the Crash Partnership was created to promote active safety systems with a proven track record in crash avoidance. The recognition and endorsement of this approach by the UN will help accelerate the adoption of the legislation required by governments across the globe to mandate these life saving technologies."