Published on: 2026-07-18
Source: United Nations – Объединенные Нации –
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Evgenia Kleshcheva
July 18, 2026 Healthcare
Road traffic accidents cost Kyrgyzstan 372 million dollars annually, and Azerbaijan about 940 million dollars. Recently, both countries were visited by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt. In an interview with the UN News Service, he spoke about the results of his trip and the situation with road safety worldwide.
Kyrgyzstan: the cost of accidents and readiness for progress
Road traffic accidents cost the Kyrgyzstan economy approximately 372 million dollars annually, which corresponds to nearly four percent of the country’s gross domestic product. Pedestrians make up 40 percent of the fatalities, and almost 22 percent of all road accident victims are children under 18 years old.
During his visit to Bishkek, Todt met with representatives of the ministries of internal affairs, transport, health, education, and emergency situations. According to him, the country’s authorities are determined to change the situation.
“In Kyrgyzstan, I saw a serious readiness to pursue change,” he said.
In February 2026, the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Kyrgyzstan approved guidelines for safe and inclusive road design. Modern safety requirements are now mandatory when developing new road projects.
The country also has laws regulating speed, drunk driving, the use of motorcycle helmets, and mobile phones while driving. However, experts note that it is necessary to strengthen control over compliance with these rules and improve data collection on traffic accidents.
According to Todt, effective measures have been known for a long time. “Education, stronger law enforcement, high-quality helmets, the use of seat belts in the front and rear seats, speed control, combating driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and phone use — all of this will help change people’s behavior and make road users less vulnerable,” he said.
Azerbaijan: positive progress and new challenges
In Azerbaijan, the number of road traffic accidents in 2025 decreased by 12.3 percent compared to the previous year. In 2024, a decrease was also recorded – by 12.8 percent.
“Azerbaijan has already started this work. They understand the importance of the problem and are taking measures,” Todt noted.
The country is implementing a national strategy in the field of road safety.
UN News Service Jean Todt holds a copy of his book “The Quiet Pandemic on the Roads.”
Commenting on the Formula 1 races in Baku, Todt noted that motorsport demonstrates how effective strict safety control can be.
“On the Baku circuit, even high speed remains safe because the rules are followed, appropriate equipment is used, and the cars meet strict requirements. But this is an organized show. A completely different situation arises with daily car use or for a pedestrian if the rules are not enforced as strictly,” he said.
“The Silent Pandemic”
Around 1.2 million people die on the world’s roads each year, and about 50 million more are injured, including those leading to disability. Road traffic accidents remain the leading cause of death for children and young people aged five to 29. About 90 percent of the fatalities occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Todt calls what is happening a “silent pandemic,” since in many countries accidents and fatalities have come to be regarded as part of everyday life.
“People get used to the situation. In many countries, they have never seen a proper protective helmet in their lives. It is necessary to spread best practices and implement them in developing countries,” the Special Envoy stated.
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According to him, unlike many other global crises, there is already a proven “recipe” to combat road traffic injuries: education, effective legislation, safe vehicles and roads, as well as quality post-accident care.
“If these simple rules are enforced, the number of road victims can be immediately halved,” he emphasized.
From motorsport to safety on regular roads
Todt has held the position of Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General since April 2015. Before that, he headed the International Automobile Federation – the organization coordinating the Formula 1 championship – and held leading positions at Ferrari and Peugeot Citroën. Todt began his career as a motorcycle racer.
He said that his personal interest in road safety is related to his many years of career in motorsport.
UN in Kazakhstan Global UN Campaign for Road Safety on the Streets of Kazakhstan.
“When I started, motor racing was very dangerous. People were not surprised if someone died in a racing car. Today, on the contrary, everyone is surprised by a serious injury because enormous progress has been made in the field of safety,” Todt said.
According to him, measures that have proven effective in motorsports should also be applied on ordinary roads.
“I hope that in 10 or 20 years, a road injury anywhere in the world will cause the same astonishment,” he added.
You need to start with children
The special envoy considers education the foundation of long-term change.
“If you teach a boy or a girl at six, seven or eight years old to behave correctly on the road, they will explain this to the adults they travel with in a car or on a motorcycle. And when they get their own vehicle, they will already know how to use it safely,” he said.
At the same time, training must be accompanied by the inevitability of punishment for violations. According to Todt, a person who is confident that speeding or other dangerous actions will go unpunished is less likely to comply with the rules. Corruption poses a particular problem.
“Law enforcement cannot function in the presence of corruption,” emphasized the Special Envoy.
New risks on city streets
The development of electric bicycles, electric scooters, and delivery services creates additional risks even in developed countries. Todt drew attention to the situation in New York, where many users of the new transport ride without helmets, go onto sidewalks, and violate traffic rules.
A particular danger is posed by the couriers’ payment system, where their earnings depend on the number of completed orders. The desire to deliver more orders can push drivers to hurry and engage in risky behavior.
According to Todt, regulation and control must develop together with new types of mobility.
© UNICEF/T. Bindra Many developing countries continue to rely on outdated vehicles and infrastructure.
Autonomous vehicles could also make roads safer in the future, but the Special Envoy cautioned against placing excessive hopes on technology. In countries where the majority of road traffic accident victims occur, cars are often in use for 20 to 40 years, public transport is poorly developed, and basic rules are not enforced.
Therefore, in the near future, autonomous vehicles will not be able to solve the problem where it is most acute.
Meeting at the UN
On July 20–21, a High-Level Meeting on improving road safety will be held at the UN Headquarters in New York. Heads of state, ministers, and experts will discuss how to accelerate the achievement of the global goal — to halve the number of deaths and injuries on the roads by 2030.
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