More than 130,000 road deaths occur each year. Safer roads are necessary to reduce the high economic and social costs.

By 2020 road accidents will kill or disable more people than war, tuberculosis, and HIV combined. In 2002 in Mumbai, 78% of road fatalities were pedestrians. In 2003 in Kenya, more than 75% of road fatalities were economically productive young adults.

Road transport accounts for 19% of global CO2 emissions. Over 800,000 deaths occur each year due to urban air pollution.

Cities with a better modal mix between cars, public transport, walking and cycling have lower energy use per capita. By incorporating NMT facilities in the transport grid, a large, lasting impact can be made on fuel use, congestion, air quality and CO2 emissions.

For the majority of people in developing countries the only affordable mode of transport is walking or cycling.

In South Africa low-income families can spend up to 25% of their income on public transport. Achieving the Millennium Development Goals requires improved access to safe, reliable and affordable mobility options to improve livelihoods.