11/05/2011
NEWS STORY
 |
Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button joined up with Prime Minister David Cameron today to help launch the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety.
The event, at 10 Downing Street, is one of over a hundred taking place around the world as the UN targets a decade of action during which it is determined to stabilise and subsequently reduce the number of fatal crashes around the world.
Worldwide, road traffic accidents are the number one killer of young people over the age of ten, while in 2009 in the UK alone there were over 2,000 fatalities.
Amongst the initiatives, the use of safety helmets and seat belt use will be heavily promoted, together with attention to safer road infrastructure and the protection of vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists.
"It's a tragedy that so many people are killed and injured just because simple safety measures are not in place," said Button. "On the race circuit I rely on my helmet, seatbelt, the safety features of the car and the track working together to help reduce the risk of injury."
"It should be the same on the public roads in every country," he added, "safer cars, safer roads, education and better enforcement."