12 May 2025, Cairo, Egypt – The eighth UN Global Road Safety Week begins on 12 May. This year, the international campaign, requested by the United Nations General Assembly, focuses on walking and cycling.
The campaign provides an opportunity to advocate for national and local action to make walking and cycling safer through evidence-based interventions grounded in a comprehensive safe system approach. Actions to enhance safety – examples are indicated in the figure below – can be implemented by a range of stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, corporations, schools, communities and civil society.
Safe walking and cycling have a direct impact on road safety, contribute to making people and societies healthier and help ensure that cities are equitable and sustainable. Walking, cycling and other forms of physical activity contribute to the prevention of noncommunicable diseases. Regular physical activity helps prevent overweight and obesity, balances hormone levels, strengthens the immune system and enhances digestion, reducing the risk of breast, colon and endometrial cancers and the chances of strokes, diabetes and hypertension. By enhancing mental and brain health and reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, walking and cycling have positive implications for overall health and well-being. Among children and adolescents, these activities encourage healthy growth and muscle development and improve motor and cognitive development. Safe walking and cycling also enhance urban transport systems, helping to prevent road traffic injuries and reduce air and noise pollution.
The Global Status Report