The Zambian capital of Lusaka has been named the recipient of the 2023 International Vision Zero for Youth Leadership Awards by the National Center for Safe Routes to School, with support from the FIA Foundation.

The International Vision Zero for Youth Leadership Award recognizes road safety practices that can inspire other cities to take bold steps to reach zero traffic deaths among children and youth in their communities and was announced during the seventh UN Global Road Safety Week.

Reducing vehicle speeds where people are walking near or on roads is a vital component of road safety, especially for children. Today, the first day of UN Global Road Safety Week, which focuses attention on the need to improve safety and networks for people walking, biking and using transit, is a meaningful time to acknowledge the great work that is being done to reduce speed and improve safety for youth when walking in Zambia.

The Vision Zero for Youth initiative announced Lusaka, Zambia, as the 2023 recipient of the Vision Zero for Youth International Leadership Award. Led by the National Center for Safe Routes to School and supported by the FIA Foundation, the Vision Zero for Youth International Leadership Award recognizes cities that have taken bold steps towards stopping traffic deaths among children and youth in their communities.

Lusaka was selected by the Award Committee in recognition of its leadership in reducing speed limits to 30 km/hr in school zones and all urban streets and making infrastructure improvements around schools. These measures will save lives by reducing speeds and creating more space in places where children – and people of all ages – are walking.

“I am humbled and honoured to accept the Vision Zero for Youth International Leadership Award on behalf of the city of Lusaka. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our community partners. Together, we have made significant strides in improving road safety around our schools and reducing the risk of traffic injuries for our children and youth,” said Her Worship the Mayor Ms. Chilando Chitangala. “What began as a local effort to make our streets safer for children has now grown into a national movement, with a 30 km/hr speed limit enforced across urban roads throughout Zambia. Our commitment to the safety and well-being of our young people is unwavering, and we will continue to work tirelessly to create safer, more liveable communities for all.”

“We are honoured to recognize the contributions of the city of Lusaka and its partners for making safety improvements to streets around schools, including reducing speed limits to 30 km/hr where children are at great risk for traffic injury,” said Nancy Pullen-Seufert, Director, National Center for Safe Routes to School, University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center. “What started as an effort to improve road safety around two Lusaka public schools turned into a citywide law, and then, in 2019, a 30 km per hour limit regulation on urban roads across the entire country of Zambia. Lusaka’s commitment to children is one we hope will be emulated by other cities worldwide.”

“Lusaka is deeply deserving of the Vision Zero for Youth International Leadership Award for its commitment to low-speed streets,” said Saul Billingsley, Executive Director of the FIA Foundation. “It is incredibly important to demonstrate how local interventions can be scaled up to a national level with the right collaboration and targeted advocacy. Reducing speeds on streets where children are most at risk is an important part of the measures needed to save lives and the city’s leadership shows decision-makers worldwide how meaningful change is possible.”

Cities recognized with the Vision Zero for Youth International Leadership Award have taken impressive action to improve walking and biking safety for their children and youth with the goal of building safer, healthier communities for everyone. The International Award is in its fourth year. Led by the National Center for Safe Routes to School in the USA, the Award program is guided by the International Vision Zero for Youth Committee, comprised of international road safety organizations including FIA Foundation, National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) Global Designing Cities Initiative, Youth for Road Safety (YOURS), International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), Safe Kids and others. Committee members nominate cities for consideration and the full committee votes from a short list of candidate cities.