WHO calls for 50km/h speed limits in Belarusian cities
MINSK, 15 May (BelTA) - The 6th UN Global Traffic Safety Week will be running through 17-23 May. The main message of the Week for Belarus is a call to reduce speed limits in cities to at least 50 km/h, Valentin Rusovich, Coordinator of Public Health Programs of the WHO Country Office in Belarus, told BelTA.
Every year, about 1.35 million people die in traffic accidents. Another 20 to 50 million people suffer non-fatal injuries, many of them become disabled.
“The main message of the campaign of the 6th UN Global Traffic Safety Week in relation to Belarus is a call for urgent speed limits in cities to at least 50 km/h recommended by the WHO. The WHO's goal is to deliver 30km/h speed limits in urban areas, except for specially designated sections. The effort is also to gradually return the allocation of designated bicycle lanes on the carriageway of city streets, the use of the bicycle as a complete means of transport with universal accessibility to any point in the city at any time of the year.