In the run-up to the United Nations (UN) Global Road Safety Week (12-18 May), UCI President David Lappartient has co-signed an open letter with UN General-Secretary’s Special Envoy for Road Safety Jean Todt calling for safety measures to protect all road users.
Nearly 1.2 million people are killed and as many as 50 million people injured on roads worldwide each year. More than one in four of the deaths occur among pedestrians and cyclists. As part of efforts to reverse this trend, Global Road Safety Week will provide an opportunity to spur action at national and local levels to make walking and cycling safe.
To reinforce the message, Tadej Pogačar, UCI World Champion in the road race, has spoken out to encourage respectful behaviour from both cyclists and drivers.
Pogačar’s safety message
Pogačar advises cyclists to be constantly alert, aware of their surroundings and to wear a helmet, even if it’s to go to the grocery store: “You can be the best bike handler or bike rider in the world, but you never know when something’s coming from behind. Always look around you and be aware of everything…” says the Slovenian, who joined the #MakeASafetyStatement road safety campaign at the sixth edition of the UCI Mobility and Bike City Forum, which took place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in December last year.
His message to drivers: “Sometimes when you need to pass cyclists, just take two more seconds of your day to pass nicely.”
More reflections from Tadej Pogačar:
#MakeaSafetyStatement campaign
The #MakeaSafetyStatement campaign was launched in 2023 by Jean Todt in collaboration with JCDecaux, the number one outdoor advertising company worldwide. As well as Pogačar, the campaign’s other ambassadors include internationally renowned sportspeople, entertainers and personalities. Billboards featuring their photos and road safety messages are displayed in countries worldwide.
The relevance and significance of the campaign – which aims to create secure, inclusive, and sustainable streets worldwide – will be highlighted during Global Road Safety Week, which is why Jean Todt and UCI President David Lappartient have signed an open letter calling for safer roads.
The letter states: “No matter the reason someone gets on a bicycle, their safety must be guaranteed. No athlete should train on a road where they fear for their life. No child should be discouraged from cycling to school because the trip is unsafe. Commuters should never feel that cycling to work is a life-threatening choice….
“Keeping a safe distance when overtaking cyclists, reducing speed in mixed traffic zones, building protected bike lanes, and enforcing helmet use are just a few proven ways to save lives.”
Discussion panels and UN Road Safety Exhibition
While the international launch of Global Road Safety Week will take place in Osaka, Japan, on Monday, the UN is uniting experts on road safety and active mobility at an event in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday 9 May. During this event, UCI Cycling for All and Sustainability Manager Isabella Burczak will join a panel discussion on safe and sustainable mobility in the city.
To coincide with Friday’s event, billboards featuring messages from the #MakeaSafetyStatement ambassadors will be posted in the city of Geneva for the first time. With the launch of Global Road Safety Week in Osaka on Monday, billboards will also be visible throughout Japan from next week. In June, the campaign will extend to Denmark, whose capital Copenhagen will host the UCI Mobility and Bike City Forum x Copenhagen Cycling Summit on 20-21 June.