UN spotlights Global NCAP in Decade of Action for Road Safety progress report
The United Nations has released its second progress report on the Decade of Action for Road Safety, offering a sobering assessment of global efforts to reduce road deaths and serious injuries.
To be formally presented at the UN High-Level Meeting in New York this summer, it sits within the framework of the UN General Assembly resolution 74/299, which declared 2021 to 2030 the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety and set the target of halving global road deaths and injuries by 2030.
The report reviews developments since the first update in 2023 and outlines priorities for the years ahead, recognising the growing role of initiatives such as Global NCAP in driving vehicle safety improvements worldwide alongside political leadership, global advocacy and knowledge exchange.
Global progress falls short
Despite renewed political momentum, global road safety progress remains off track. Traffic deaths have declined slightly to 1.19 million annually, a reduction of 5% since 2010. While more than half of Member States have reduced fatalities and 10 have achieved a 50% cut, the pace of change is insufficient to meet the 2030 goal.
The burden of road trauma remains highly unequal. Around 92% of deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, with vulnerable road users accounting for the majority of fatalities. Road traffic injuries remain the leading cause of death among children and young people aged 5 to 29.
The report builds on commitments made at the 2022 high-level meeting on road safety and tracks progress against 18 priority actions including improved governance, stronger data systems, strengthened financing and more equitable approaches to safety. It also reflects new momentum generated by the fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, where more than 100 countries endorsed the Marrakech Declaration.
Vehicle safety in focus
Vehicle safety is identified as a key area of progress. The report highlights how Global NCAP has supported the launch of the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme, now the tenth NCAP globally, and advanced a global campaign for mandatory safety labelling.
It also points to Global NCAP’s contribution to the Shanghai Declaration, which aims to democratise vehicle safety by promoting transparency and minimum standards across all markets.
Looking ahead, further advances are expected. Research funded by the Swedish Transport Administration is helping shape future protocols at Euro NCAP, including plans for heavy truck crash compatibility testing by 2031.
The report’s conclusion is clear: progress is being made but not at the scale or speed required. Meeting the 2030 target will demand stronger implementation of proven measures, deeper collaboration and sustained global commitment to safer roads for all.
