Olympians, racers speak up on the importance of road safety
The numbers are staggering. Every day, 3,500 people lose their lives on the road—that’s approximately 1.25 million people a year, with an additional 50 million left with serious injuries.
Of that daily number, 500 are children, many of them on their way to school. They could be crossing the pedestrian lane or dashing across a busy street as seen in the video commissioned by the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile).
Jean Todt, FIA president and the United Nations secretary-general’s special envoy for road safety, was recently in the country to open the 2018 FIA Sport Conference.
The video brings together Olympians, race car drivers and motorcycle racers as well as actress and UN Development Programme (UNDP) goodwill ambassador Michelle Yeoh, and singer and songwriter Pharrel Williams.
The three-minute PSA (public service announcement) was made in support of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020), whose aim is to halve the number of road casualties by 2020.
The FIA High Level Panel for Road Safety supports this objective by bringing together global leaders in policy, busi- ness and public health.
Don’t text and drive
Two-time FIA Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso reminds viewers to buckle up while Williams states the obvious: Don’t text and drive.
Other reminders that bear repeating include “Don’t drink and drive,” and “Stop or pull over when you’re tired.”
Yeoh advocates the use of a child safety seat at all times when traveling with a child, and donning a helmet if you’re driving a motorcycle.
Tennis player Rafael Nadal, who ranks second worldwide with 14 Grand Slam titles, said, “My recommendation is that when we get in the car, we stay totally focused on what we’re doing.”
Olympic world champion racer Yohan Blake makes a convincing case against speeding when you’re in a hurry. “If you’re going somewhere and you’re late, you’re already late. Don’t try to force it,” he said.
Even Pope Francis had this to say when Jean Todt paid him a special visit: “Every life is sacred. We have to ensure that roads are safe and become a priority. Slow down to save lives.”