The GT1 World Championship demonstrated its support for the Make Roads Safe campaign and the call for a Decade of Action for Road Safety at the official launch of the 2010 GT1 season in Paris today.

The initiative forms part of the FIA’s continued commitment and support for the Commission for Global Road Safety and its Make Roads Safe campaign.

Jean Todt, FIA President, said:

“Tomorrow, the UN General Assembly is set to approve a Decade of Action for Road Safety. If this happens, we could save five million lives over the next 10 years. I am pleased that the GT1 World Championship has joined the ranks of other FIA series to give further exposure to the campaign and help the Decade become a reality.”

Stephane Ratel, CEO and Founder of GT1 World Championship Promoter SRO said:

“The whole of GT racing is proud to support this campaign. Last year, 1.3 million people were killed on the world’s roads. Action must be taken to start saving these lives. I am happy that GT racing is helping to highlight the Road Safety tragedy and the terrible accidents taking place.”

Michael Bartels, Vitaphone team principal and GT1 World Championship driver said:

“We already know many of the solutions to the road safety problem. Action must be taken to ensure that these solutions are put in place, so lives can be saved.”

Christopher Haase, 2009 FIA GT3 European Champion and 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship driver said:

“Last year, my co driver Christopher Mies survived a terrible accident whilst racing. I am very aware that if it been a few years earlier he might not have made it. A conscious effort was made to make motor sport safe, and as a result, the progress in safety was significant and demonstrated that change is possible. The same conscious effort should be made to make roads safe. I fully support this campaign.”

Tomorrow, the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly will debate a resolution to proclaim 2011-2020 a Decade of Action for Road Safety, and to prepare an action plan to implement its objectives.

Alongside the FIA Foundation, FIA member clubs have played a vital part in supporting the campaign to bring the road safety issue to the UN.

Road crashes already kill on a scale of Malaria or Tuberculosis and they are forecast to increase dramatically unless action is taken:

By 2030, the projected number of deaths on the world’s roads will be roughly double the current level.
Around 1.3 million people will be killed on the world’s roads this year. Over 90 per cent of these fatalities occur in the world’s poorest countries.
Road traffic fatalities are the single biggest source of death among 15-19 year olds in developing countries and the second leading cause among 5-14 year olds.
For further information and to support the campaign visit www.makeroadssafe.org