George Yannis is a Professor in Traffic and Safety Engineering and Director of the Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). After more than 30 years of dedication to road safety science and several marathon races, he decided to combine both passions for a cause: to run 30 marathons in 30 months in order to actively promote the adoption of 30km/h speed limit in as many cities as possible worldwide. By running marathons, during these 30 months, he will promote the 30 km/h city-wide speed limits as the best paradigm for safer, healthier, and greener cities.

Road crashes is a major societal problem worldwide, with 1,19 million road fatalities per year and estimated 50 million of road injuries. Speeding is the number one cause of road crashes worldwide, especially in cities where pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists are highly exposed and vulnerable in case of a collision.

Scientists urge continuously for lower speeds worldwide; however, speeding remains a model and sought-after behaviour among most drivers and riders, especially the young, and is very often promoted or largely tolerated by society, the authorities, and the industry.

Lately, some city authorities have started to understand the fatal role of speeding on city streets and attempt to implement policies of lower speeds, often through the adoption of smaller or larger zones with speed limit of 30 km/h; in some cases, covering the whole city (e.g. Europe’s capital, Brussels). Scientific evidence so far demonstrates more than 40% lives saved with the introduction of 30km/h zones; in parallel to significant environmental, energy, and health impacts with less fuel consumption and more walking and cycling.

The discussion and introduction of 30 km/h city zones faces strong reactions and rigid inertia, whereas supporters’ voices are weak and inefficient, resulting in hesitant politicians and authorities. That is the reason why George decided to step beyond the continuous scientific pleas and promote more actively the 30 km/h city through his challenge of 30 marathons in 30 months.

During the 30 months, he will focus on scientific planning and preparation, systematic effort, and continuous monitoring, and dedication in order to complete the 30 marathons. He knows exactly the skills that are needed by any city to change and achieve steady progress towards sustainable city mobility.

This challenge is not an easy one for him at his age, but he is convinced that it is fully worth trying it and supporting as loudly as possible the new paradigm of safer, healthier, and greener cities through the 30 km/h zones. The sooner they are adopted, the more lives are saved and this is the highest compensation for his cause.

He will do his best to mobilise the society, the authorities, the industry, and everyone involved in the decision-making process to change the current speedy patterns of city transport towards safe, healthy and green mobility everywhere and for all. Starting with the globally recognised research group, the NTUA Road Safety Observatory and the wide network of our worldwide cooperations, George will ally with everyone who wishes to make the voice of 30km/h cities as strong as possible, as soon as possible.

Learn more at www.georgeruns30x30.com