GIS – 08 April 2025: It is imperative to improve traffic safety, decrease road accidents and fatalities, said the Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, this afternoon, following a courtesy call by the United Nations (UN) Special Envoy for Road Safety, Mr Jean Todt, at the New Treasury Building in Port Louis. He was accompanied by the Minister of Land Transport, Mr Mohamed Osman Cassam Mahomed.
Dr Ramgoolam highlighted that it is unacceptable that the death toll due to road accidents remains high in Mauritius. He deplored that so many people lose their lives each year and some are injured or become disabled for life. He recalled that Government is prioritising road safety and will implement the propositions of Mr Todt.
PM Ramgoolam stated that his objective is to halve the death toll due to road accidents but informed that according to the UN Special Envoy for Road Safety, this figure can be further lowered.
The Prime Minister also mentioned the newly launched book of Mr Todt, ‘The Silent Pandemic on the Road’ which highlights the devastating global impact of road traffic fatalities, emphasising the need for collective action to address this crisis.
For his part, Mr Todt underscored that his meeting with the Prime Minister was very fruitful. He talked about his participation in the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety which was held in Marrakech in Morocco from 15 to 20 February 2025. The objective, he stated, is to accelerate action to eliminate road accidents globally.
Mr Todt indicated that road accidents are the “number one killer” for individuals aged 5 to 29. He noted that each year, 1.2 million people die on the road, and a further 40 to 50 million are injured, many seriously.
He acknowledged the Mauritian Government’s pressing need to address road safety and decrease road fatalities. He further recalled that according to statistics, some 130 people lose their lives in road accidents each year in Mauritius while hundreds are injured.
The UN Special Envoy for Road Safety further outlined the solutions that can be put in place as regards road safety solutions. They include: education, enforcement of laws, quality of vehicles and tyres. Campaigns targeting driving under the influence of alcohol, using mobile phones while driving and excessive speeding should be put in place, he added. According to him, these initiatives, as well as media participation, will ensure that road accidents and injuries decrease in Mauritius.
Furthermore, he spoke of the recently launched UN road safety campaign aimed to improve traffic safety and create inclusive, safe and sustainable streets. “With this campaign, together with the celebrities that are joining us, and our partners JCDecaux and Saatchi & Saatchi, we are trying to mobilise the political will that is needed to increase actions and financing to save millions of lives,” he added.
Visit of Mr Todt in Mauritius
Mr Jean Todt is on a 24-hour visit in Mauritius at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam. The visit, which lies in the wake of an increase in fatal accidents on the Mauritian roads, aims to address the country’s road safety challenges.
According to the latest data from Statistics Mauritius, 134 people lost their lives in road accidents in 2024 as compared to the 138 deaths recorded in 2023. Of the victims in 2024, 66 were motorbike drivers or passengers and 24 were pedestrians.
Raising awareness to reduce road accidents worldwide
On 29 April 2015, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Mr Jean Todt as his first ever Special Envoy for Road Safety. In this role, he is committed to raising awareness and mobilising resources to reduce road accidents worldwide.
He is the former President of the Fédération Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA). He was elected to the position in October 2009 and re-elected in December 2013. He is also a Member of the Board of Trustees of the FIA Foundation for the Automobile and Society.
In 2011, Mr Jean Todt was named Grand Croix de la Légion d’Honneur, the highest honour of the French Republic.
Government Information Service, Prime Minister’s Office, Level 6, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius. Email: gis@govmu.org Website: https://gis.govmu.org Mobile App: Search Gov
