Toolbox Goes Global

Summer 2012

"Globally road traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for young people, like myself. We have the right, responsibility, and capability to change this situation. This Youth and Road Safety Action Kit is an essential addition to our road safety toolbox."

Sheila Atieno, aged 25, Kenya

Youth around the world will have access to YOURS – Youth for Road Safety's first publication which will introduce them to road safety, inspire them, and equip them with the knowledge they need to take action.

The Youth and Road Safety Action Kit is an attractive youth friendly publication giving much needed attention to the global road safety threat facing young people. Each year 400,000 young people aged between 15-29 die on the world's roads and millions more are injured. This translates into more than 1,000 young lives lost unnecessarily every day on the roads, making road crashes the number one killer of young people ahead of HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria.

The numbers are not merely statistics. Behind each number is a person, a family, a friend, and a story of how life can change in an instant.

In response to this crisis, many young people set out to become road safety activists, raising awareness of those around them and pressing their governments for more serious action.

The global youth movement for road safety is gaining pace but there are still many who find road safety information inaccessible to them and a lot more passionate individuals who need guidance in getting started.

This is precisely why the Youth and Road Safety Action Kit was written. It has been written by young people for young people. It is scientific yet appealing. As such, this kit is the first of its kind in the world.

The Youth and Road Safety Action Kit takes young people on a journey with three main stops. The first part focuses on the global road safety crisis: Why are young people at particular risk? How does speeding, distracted driving, alcohol and drug use, non-use of helmets and other risk factors contribute to road traffic injuries? After the first stop, it is time for action.

The second part is a guide on how to get on board with a focus on planning and implementing road safety projects. What else do young people need to get going?

The last part is a set of briefings on key actions and processes which can make their projects successful: partnership building, community participation, networking, and fundraising.

"This is the Youth and Road Safety Action Kit," said Nellie Ghusayni, author of the publication, "a simple guide to inspire young people to get actively involved in road safety". We, the youth, are the main victims of road crashes worldwide. To be able to protect ourselves and stay safe, we need the knowledge and the tools; this is our starting point. I invite you to read it, use it, disseminate it, and please share your thoughts with us.

The kit is available for free to download from www.youthforroadsafety.org YOURS offers training on the content of the kit for further development of young people around the world.

The kit has been produced with the support of Michelin, and the International Union for Health Promotion and Education with the technical support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention.