Background The YOURS- Youth for Road Safety organisation has established the ‘SDG Champions,’ a youth-led structure designed to empower dedicated youth advocates and researchers. This project focuses on crafting policy briefs that strategically integrate road safety within the broader Sustainable Development Agenda. Road safety is a critical element in achieving various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including gender equality (SDG 5), quality education (SDG 4), health (SDG 3), climate action (SDG 13), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), and reducing inequalities (SDG 10). Each brief provides concrete case studies of youth-led actions by the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety members, emphasising youth participation in local policy changes.

Objective The primary aim of the SDG Champions is to create a robust platform for youth advocates and researchers to develop and disseminate policy briefs. These briefs serve as vital advocacy tools, highlighting the intersection of road safety with various SDGs and empowering youth to effectively engage with decision-makers. The ultimate goal is to influence national policies to adopt measures and interventions that significantly reduce injuries and fatalities, particularly among youth, while fostering healthier, more sustainable, accessible, and inclusive transport systems.

Policy Analysis The SDG Champions project employs a youth-led, multi-sectoral approach to policy analysis, leveraging the unique perspectives of young advocates to address the intersection of road safety with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The framework is built on inclusivity, equity, and sustainability principles, aiming to integrate road safety into broader social, health, environmental, and urban development policies. Each policy brief is developed through a rigorous analysis that includes data-driven insights, case studies of youth-led actions, and strategic recommendations. The rationale behind this approach is to ensure that road safety interventions are effective in reducing injuries and fatalities and contribute to achieving a wide array of global development goals. By doing so, the initiative seeks to create a comprehensive policy response that addresses the multifaceted challenges faced by youth and communities in the context of road safety and sustainable development.

Policy Implications The policy briefs developed by the SDG Champions project have the potential to significantly influence government and multi-stakeholder actions. These briefs aim to advance the achievement of multiple SDGs by fostering positive, decarbonised, and inclusive mobility systems through informed policy decisions. Additionally, we aim to support youth and civil society in designing interventions that address road safety challenges at the intersection with other pressing issues.

Conclusions The package of six policy briefs developed by the SDG Champions seeks to cultivate a culture of advocacy and informed action among youth. By linking road safety to key SDGs, the project empowers young people with the tools to influence decision-makers and support policy changes at both local and national levels, ultimately aiming to reduce the injuries and fatalities that disproportionately affect youth due to road traffic crashes.