Bangkok, 3 June 2025 – UNESCAP Road Safety Week
Today, at the Brands for Safer Roads session hosted at the UN ESCAP Headquarters in Bangkok, government officials, urban planners, road safety experts, and private sector leaders came together to address one of the most pressing global transport issues of our time: the rising tide of motorcycle-related fatalities, particularly in Asia-Pacific and other low- and middle-income regions.
Organised by PVBLIC Foundation in support of the UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) and its 24Seconds initiative, this high-level event was the second in a global series of dialogues launched in Marrakech earlier this year.
A Shared Crisis, A Shared Responsibility
Opening the session, Nneka Henry, Head of the UNRSF, reminded participants that motorcycle users now account for over 35% of all road deaths in Asia-Pacific, and up to 60% in Southeast Asia. “We have the tools, technologies, and knowledge to change this,” she said. “But each of us has to first agree to participate and then to partner.”
Speakers from the City of Bangkok, Indonesia’s National Road Safety Council, Ministry of Transportation of Indonesia, and the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) joined private sector innovators from Prometric and Autoliv to explore practical and scalable approaches to motorcycle safety—ranging from legislation and helmet standards to consumer safety ratings and AI-powered rider training platforms.
“Prometric is proud to support the global road safety community in its mission to reduce fatalities and make transportation safer for all. We help turn expert knowledge into effective exams for drivers, for mechanics, transportation system designers, and others across the industry”, said Jim Hagenbucher, Managing Director- Japan, Prometric.
Concrete Solutions, Country Experiences
Highlights included:
• Bangkok’s Vision Zero strategy to reduce motorcyclist deaths through data-driven planning and infrastructure upgrades.
• Indonesia’s efforts to expand formal rider training and enforce helmet use, especially in rural areas.
• Malaysia’s MyMAP motorcycle safety rating tool, helping consumers and manufacturers prioritize vehicle safety.
• Prometric’s culturally adaptive, AI-enhanced driver testing tools.
• Autoliv’s innovations in smart helmet technology and passive safety systems.
Looking Ahead: A Roadmap to Action
Throughout the session, participants emphasised the need to:
• Mandate and enforce certified helmet use
• Scale up digital licensing and training systems
• Align public policy with private sector innovation
As part of the 24Seconds platform, the Brands for Safer Roads series continues to serve as a bridge between sectors, helping move from dialogue to implementation, especially in regions where motorcycles are essential but deadly.
Next Stop: The United Nations General Assembly
The Brands for Safer Roads series was inaugurated in Marrakech during the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety. Following Bangkok, the next Brands for Safer Roads session will take place at the UN Headquarters in New York in Fall 2025, providing a global stage to mobilise commitments, elevate solutions, and secure new partnerships to make roads safer for all.
About 24Seconds
Powered by PVBLIC Foundation, 24Seconds is a global initiative aligned with the UN Road Safety Fund that convenes public and private stakeholders to accelerate progress on road safety, especially in countries with the greatest need.
About the UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF)
Established in 2018, the UNRSF is the UN’s only pooled financing mechanism dedicated to road safety. The UNRSF brings unique convening power and strategic value to this initiative. It mobilises cross-sector government engagement and coordinates the expertise of over 20 UN implementing partners to achieve SDG 3.6, which is to halve road deaths by 2030.