Traffic accidents kill about 1.25 million people each year around the world, participants at a forum on road safety warned Wednesday, calling on countries to work to reduce the alarming figure.
World Health Organization (WHO) chief Margaret Chan conveyed a message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, saying that "reducing traffic deaths is one of the Sustainable Development Goals and an obligation for the world."
Some 90 percent of all traffic fatalities occur in developing countries, Chan said, adding that at least another 30 million people are injured in road accidents.
Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among young people aged 15-29 years. Almost half of all road traffic deaths are "vulnerable road users" -- pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, a recent WHO report said.
Some 1,500 delegates from more than 100 countries, including health, transport and interior ministers, have gathered in Brasilia to find solutions to halve road traffic deaths and injuries by 2020.
On the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims that falls on Nov. 15, Ban called on governments "to tighten enforcement of laws on speeding, drinking and driving, and to mandate and enforce the use of seatbelts, motorcycle helmets and child restraints -- all of which have been shown to save lives."
According to Chan, each year 500 billion U.S. dollars is spent worldwide on treating traffic accident victims, a substantial amount that could be better spent.
