Bringing together an unprecedented coalition of senior decision makers in policy, business and public health (full list below), the FIA’s High Level Panel will focus on raising funds and promoting greater awareness of road safety concerns. Each member of the panel has made a clear commitment to this initiative through a 10 Point Manifesto for Safer Roads, signed by all the members of the panel.

According to the 2015 WHO Global Status Report on Road Safety published on October 19, some 1.25 million people are killed in car crashes around the world each year. 90% of these fatalities occur in low- and middle- income countries, despite only accounting for 54% of the world vehicles. Traffic crashes cost these countries approximately 5% of GDP. In the past three years there has been a 16% rise in the number of vehicles on the world’s roads, further underpinning the urgent need for action.

Jean Todt, High Level Panel for Road Safety Chairman, who is also the President of the FIA and the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, said: “The FIA High Level Panel for Road Safety is a unique initiative supporting an exceptional objective – a 50% reduction of fatalities on the world’s roads in the next five years, a target recognised under the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The panel members, all of them leaders in their field, will work toward this goal through raising the necessary funds and awareness to stop and reverse the tragic loss of life on our roads.”

Michelle Yeoh, Spokesperson for the Panel, said: “The focus of the High Level Panel is on practical action to improve road safety in those countries where the need is most urgent. The Panel brings together a network of leading individuals, from a range of fields of experience. Combined they can substantially raise awareness of the global road safety challenge and the need to mobilise new funds for this cause.”