Road deaths are a global epidemic that has been ignored by the world's leaders. Make Roads Safe is an international campaign to put global road traffic injuries on the G8 and UN sustainable development agendas. The campaign aims at raising public and political awareness of road safety injury epidemic.

The Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) brings together governments and non-government agencies, the private sector and civil society organisations to address road safety issues in low and middle income countries. It is a hosted programme of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva.

It is under the GRSP auspices that the African Road Safety Conference was held in Accra from 5th to 7th February 2007 under the theme "Road Safety and the Millennium Development Goals." The conference brought together government representatives across Africa, regional economic communities, the UN Economic Commission for Africa, NGOs, business enterprises and Red Cross/Crescent National Societies from Kenya, Egypt, South Africa, Cameroon and Ghana.

The conference deliberated on a number of issues on road safety including what works in preventing road traffic injuries, raising political commitment and resources, road safety management, emergency trauma care and road traffic crashes vis-à-vis poverty. A number of countries including Kenya, Ghana and Burkina Faso gave experiences on efforts in reducing deaths and injuries in road safety programmes.

After deliberations, the conference recommended the formulation of policies, with three areas, including, Education through schools and communities; Enforcement of legislation and concerned institutions; and Good infrastructure and environment.

Deliberations indicated that National Societies have not been very active in road safety activities except in the area of emergency trauma care. Significant work was being done through First Aid services offered by volunteers and through Community Based First Aid training. The National Societies however should also be involved in education and creating awareness.

Kenya Red Cross Society has had previous road safety campaigns. However, work needs to be intensified in the communities living along black spot areas, as well as incorporate road safety education in other dissemination and youth activities. Other interventions include conducting First Aid training targeting truck drivers and other motorists as these are usually the first on vehicle crash scene, as well as marking roads to make them more visible for motorists.

At the request of governments, the first United Nations Road Safety Week will be held from 23rd to 29th April 2007. The theme of the week will be "Young Road Users," as they constitute a major group of risk of death, injury and disability on the road. The objectives are to raise awareness and promote actions around key factors such as using helmets and seat-belts, and action against speeding and drink driving, among others.

At the global level, a stakeholders' forum focusing on road safety for young people will be held on 25th April 2007 in Geneva targeting participants between the ages of 18 and 25 years old.