The Star/ Asia News Network reports.

“It is distracting because one has to look down to text while driving,” she said. “All it takes is a split second for an accident to happen. Texting is a definite no,” she added after attending the launch of ‘Driving is a No Phone Zone’ campaign at Help University College here yesterday.

“We must stand firm. This goes beyond political will. Many lives can be lost if we do not take preventive measures,” said the James Bond girl.

The campaign, a collaboration between the Road Safety Department and the college, was launched by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha.

It is inspired by the “No Phone Zone” campaign introduced by popular talk show host Oprah Winfrey, who had called on road users to not use their handphones or hands-free kit when driving.

Yeoh, who leads the Make Road Safe campaign, said each individual had a role to play in preventing crashes. “Enforcement alone isn’t enough,” she said.

“We are all road users. All of us are responsible for our lives and the lives of our loved ones while on the road. Everyone has the right to use the road safely,” she said, adding that the UN would launch its international road safety plan in May.

Kong said the campaign was to foster a healthy road safety culture although it was already an offence to talk and drive without a hands-free kit.

“Although the law does not specify the banning of hands-free devices, studies revealed that the use of handphones causes distractions to drivers and has a similar effect as drunk driving,” he said.

“Studies have also shown that the use of handphones, even with hands-free devices, can cause drivers to be less sensitive to their surroundings.”

Help University College president and co-founder Datuk Dr Paul Chan said it would help the ministry raise awareness about the campaign.

Michelle Yeoh –  Make Roads Safe and YOURS

In March of last year, YOURS’ director took a photo opportunity to join forces with the Make Road Safe campaign and since then has joined the United Nations Global Road Safety Partnership championing the youth cause at a global level of authority.

Dmitry Sambuk, Make Roads Safe campaign: “Sadly, road crashes are the biggest killer of young people in the world. We need joint efforts to reduce these road deaths and injuries if we are to fulfil the aims of the recently adopted UN Decade of Action on Road Safety. And it is essential to have a strong voice of the youth during the Decade of Action. Therefore the Make Roads Safe campaign is pleased to welcome YOURS and looks forward to effective cooperation.”

You can read all about that story here. 

YOURS has just presented to the IDB Youth Event in Calgary, Canada. The event is focusing on pressing youth issues in a global age. YOURS’ director, Mr Floor Lieshout presented information about the global epidemic of road crashes and the panel he sat on offered solutions of global collaboration to combat developmental issues.

The Youth for Development – Development for Youth event coordinated by the Inter-American Developmental Bank (IDB) with Microsoft and partners is currently taking place in Calgary , Canada and has already brought together global leaders working on social and developmental issues facing young people in the modern global world of today.

Mr Floor Lieshout joined panelists, Charly Alberti, President and Founder of R21 Foundation (Argentina), Tim Straka, Education Program Director , Students on Ice (Canada), Ignacio González Nappa, Director of Development for Latin America and the Caribbean , Un Techo Para mi País (Chile) and Mario Cader-Frech, Vice President of Public Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility, MTV Latin America.

The focus of the panel was Social Innovations for a Sustainable Planet and each respective organization presented their solutions to developmental issues facing young people. The debate was lively, energetic and very passionate and gave participants at the event a feel of how to go about tackling issues facing them.

A key theme that emerged from the debate was a common perspective that young people are inhabiting an exciting point in history whereby new technological solutions are paving the way for creative and alternative methods in combating social developmental issues.

The panel reiterated the point that in order to change the world we live in, we must escape from our individual working silos and work together through cross-sectoral, cross-cultural collaborations to meet social needs together. Mr Lieshout gave a clear example of how road safety solutions benefit the goals of many sectors of society in that the reduction of road crashes could lead to the increased use of public transport resulting in fewer cars on the road, greener and healthier cities. This illustrates how efforts in one sector can have a positive impact on other sectors and ultimately offer positive outcomes for society.

The theme of the panel was that young people are more powerful now than they have ever been. The solutions to problems are everywhere and when young people come together, anything is possible.

The final word from the panel went to Mr Floor Lieshout who said, ‘A wise man once said, be the change you want to see in the world and isn’t is quite cool that everybody in this room can be a road safety role model by acting to be safer straight away?’ This was met with applause and cheer.

You can continue to watch the event live here.

The Inter-American Developmental Bank (IDB) holds its Youth for Development – Development for Youth event this week in collaboration with The University of Calgary and Microsoft. YOURS will be delivering a presentation here and you can watch the event LIVE from the comfort of your own computer.