Bloomberg Giving $125-Million for Global Traffic Safety

Michael Bloomberg’s foundation is expected to announce a $125-million commitment today to programs to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities in 10 metropolitan areas around the world, The Wall Street Journal writes. The five-year effort will focus on cities in low- and middle-income countries, where more than 90 percent of road deaths occur, according to the World Health Organization.

Bloomberg Philanthropies has already spent $125-million since 2010 on road-safety issues in 10 countries with high traffic death tolls, targeting seatbelt use, drunken driving, and other factors. The new round of funding will replicate those efforts in fast-growing urban areas. Kelly Henning, head of the foundation’s public-health programs, said it will invite 20 cities with more than 2 million residents to apply for grants and will select 10 recipients by early next year.