The United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) hosted, with the support of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and Autoliv, a session titled “Catalyzing motorcycle industry leadership on the road to Morocco”  during the Conference on Asia Road Safety (CARS) 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event provided a platform for key stakeholders from the motorcycle industry, government, and civil society to discuss strategies for improving motorcyclist safety in the region.

The meeting emphasized the critical role of motorcycle manufacturers in promoting road safety. With the global number of motorcycles on the roads expected to continue rising, addressing motorcycle safety is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 3.6 of halving road deaths by 2030.

The session featured a keynote address by Jean Todt, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, who stressed the importance of industry collaboration in achieving road safety goals. Additionally, Dr. Weimin Ren, Director of the Transport Division at UNESCAP, provided an overview of the global burden of road crashes and the specific challenges faced by motorcyclists.

Industry leaders, including Tomofumi Saito, VP of Research & Design, Asia, Autoliv, and Ir. Azhar Hamzah from MIROS Malaysia presented advancements in motorcycle safety technology and the need for robust legal frameworks. 

A dynamic roundtable discussion with industry leaders explored effective interventions to improve motorcyclist safety, including:

• Strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks for motorcycle safety standards.
• Enhancing innovation and safety standards in motorcycle design and manufacturing.
• Addressing the affordability and availability of helmets that meet UN Regulation No. 22 safety requirements: https://www.un-ilibrary.org/content/books/9789210577885c010/read
• Bridging the gap in low- and middle-income countries by promoting access to safe and affordable motorcycles and helmets.

The latest regional report from WHO on road safety in South-East Asia shows that 66% of reported road traffic deaths involve pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists. These alarming numbers underscore the importance of implementing targeted interventions to improve motorcycle safety and to protect vulnerable road users, including older individuals, women, children, and persons with disabilities.