New York, NY – The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Road Safety marked the start of a collaboration with the aim of strengthening the role of law enforcement in enhancing global road safety.  

This collaboration takes place in the context of an ongoing global road safety crisis with, according to the World Health Organization, road traffic injuries killing 1.4 million people worldwide annually, with 90% of those fatal injuries taking place in low- and middle-income countries.  

“We are excited to partner with Special Envoy Jean Todt to elevate the role of policing leaders in efforts to enhance global road safety,” stated IACP Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Vincent Talucci. “IACP believes that by leveraging our global network of police leaders, in collaboration with the United Nations, we can enhance equitable road policing enforcement and safety.”    

The United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety was appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General to help mobilize sustained political commitment towards making road safety a priority. A core value of the Special Envoy for Road Safety is advocating for programs, legislative changes, resources, and international partnerships with the aim of improving the safety of the world’s roads, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries.  

The IACP is the world’s largest and most influential professional association for police leaders, with more than 33,000 members in over 170 countries. Committed to advancing the safety of communities worldwide, the IACP has experience implementing road safety projects with an emphasis on improving traffic enforcement practices in low- and middle-income countries and has strong relationships with police agencies at the municipal, state, and national level in countries around the world. 

It is in the common interest of the Special Envoy and the IACP to ensure that law enforcement leaders are central actors in global road safety discussions and initiatives. The start of this collaboration indicates the crucial role of traffic enforcement authorities in promoting the safety of the world’s roads, and an important step forward to saving lives.