Senegal’s national football team have supported the Decade of Action for Road Safety by wearing the movement’s iconic symbol, the Decade of Action Tag. The team are national heroes for aspiring young football stars in Senegal and act as beacons of hardwork and training in Africa. Bringing attention to road safety in Africa is an incredibly important as the continent remains the most affected with regards to road crashes.
Active road safety NGO Laser International were behind the initiative and saw the Senegal National Team to be positive road models for road safety and their endorsement is hoped to raise awareness with the Senegalese populus as well as raising awareness of the Decade of Action for Road Safety in the African continent.
Laser International have also been involved in implemented global road safety initiatives such as the Global Helmet Vaccine. The Global Helmet Vaccine Initiative (GHVI) aims to promote motorcycle helmet wearing across the developing world, working in partnership with governments, the private sector and non-governmental organisations. Laser International have been involved in implenetation in Senegal.
Photoshoot for the Senegal football team took place during the African Cup of Nations training and was featured across Senegalese media to raise awareness about road safety in Africa.
The Senegalese nationa football team take pictures with the Decade of Action tag emblazoned on their chest. The full photoshoot can be view on MakeRoadsSafe’s Flickr photostream and photo credit goes to Make Road Safe for the sharing the story.
Road Crash Burden in Africa
As Brian Mwebaze, our young road safety columinist from Africa states, ‘…the World Health Organization (WHO) decalre that 1.3 million people are killed annually and up to 50 million people are injured annually due to road traffic crashes. 90% of all of the world’s road fatalities (which can be preventable) take place in low and middle income countries and especially in Africa. However, the low and middle income countries do not even own half of the world’s vehicles!’
Endorsement of the Decade of Action Tag
With figureheads and role models showcasing their support for the Decade of Action, the tag has become an international symbol for the ten year movement. The Senegalese exaple follows suit from support shown by Kenyan Athletes, The Ghana Blackstars football team and Irish Motosport Drivers.
YOURS also promoted the use of the Decade of Action tag with over 450 young people in our luanch activity in Ontario Canada. This showcase can be viewed below.
