Last Thursday, May 20, YOURS – Youth for Road Safety Head of Communications, Manpreet Darroch, joined the Jamaica National Road Safety Council webinar for the 6th UN Global Road Safety Week. The session tackled the importance of addressing road crashes in Jamaica. Dr. Lucien Jones, Vice Chairman of the National Road Safety Council, led the session.
Road safety and the Decade of Action
The session was opened by the Most Honorable Andrew Holness, ON, MP – the Prime Minister of Jamaica and the Chairman of the National Road Safety Council. During his opening remarks, PM Holness, showed support for the goals set in the new Decade of Action for Road Safety.
“In Jamaica, we will be playing our part to ensure the successful design and implementation of a holistic plan to make our roadways streets for life” – Most Honorable Andrew Holness, ON, MP
The session included speakers; Hon. Earl Jarett, OJ, CD, JP from the Jamaica National Group, Zoleka Mandela from Child Health Initiative, Dr. Parris Lyew-Ayee Jnr. from the Mona Geoinfomatics Institute, Dr. Etienne Krug from the World Health Organization, Saul Billingsley from the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile, Julio Urzua from iRAP – International Road Assessment Programme, Avi Silverman from the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile, and Manpreet Darroch from YOURS – Youth for Road Safety.
Each of the road safety leaders talked about how important low-speed streets are in the achievement of the new Decade of Action for Road Safety. Julio Urzua emphasized that, apart from achieving the goals in the new Decade of Action, addressing issues around road safety could also meet the targets in the Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr. Etienne also pointed out how important following up on statements is as important as sharing commitments. This task falls on all stakeholders.
“Be more vocal and bolder. We can’t continue having, even discussions like this, where we have high-level political leaders join us and state their commitment and do not see the results. We have to be more demanding, we have to be more pushy and make sure that these political statements lead to real action” – Dr. Etienne Krug
The role of youth
During his discussion, Manpreet talked about how important young people are to advocate for low-speed streets and implement road safety projects and initiatives.
Manpreet talked about how YOURS and the Coalition have gathered young people from around the world who are extremely committed to making streets safer for their peers.
“Too many young have seen their peers being killed on the road and the tragic effects that it has on communities around the world. So we, as the young people, are stepping up and claiming our space” – Manpreet Darroch
Manpreet also emphasized that, apart from giving young people a voice, it is also important to provide them with support and opportunities to energize the global road safety movement so they can move forward and take the fight for road safety forward with them.