An international conference with the theme “Youth and Road Safety … Challenges and Solutions” takes place in Abu Dhabi on November 27 to 28, 2013. A conference organized by The Emirates Traffic Safety Society (ETSS), La Prévention Routière International (PRI) and Arab Road Safety Organization (AROSO).
The United Arab Emriates (UAE) Abu Dhabi, will be the backdrop for the event.
Introduction to the conference from the organizers
In addition to the impact of traffic accidents on social tragedies, road crashes also represent the costs and burdens of the economic and health aspects. Youth are the most important target groups of this problem, according to statistics issued by the World Health Organization (WHO). The vast majority of the victims of traffic accidents are the young people.
The report which is also released by the United Nations, under the title “Youth and Road Safety” indicated that traffic accidents annually result in the loss of nearly 400 thousand lives of young people under the age of 25 years, along with hundreds of thousands of injured and disabled. The same report confirms that the vast majority of these deaths and injuries included low-and middle-income countries. The highest rates are found in Africa and the Middle East.
Young people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds are at greatest risk in all countries. Males are also more likely than females to risk the death from traffic accidents, in every age group under 25 years old. Traffic accidents are still a problem worrying security agencies in the United Arab Emirates and the public despite the decline in 2012 numbers, compared to 2011. These numbours represented the number of deaths and injuries and the effects on other social life, in addition to material losses in the property damage which cost the economy a lot of money.
Road crashes remain the biggest killer of young people globally.
Who are the young people? The definition of youth is according to the specifics of communities, cultures and countries in terms of identifying the age group. Some countries classified youth based on the definition adopted by the United Nations,young people in the age group between 15 – 24 years old. Other countries adopted the age group of 15 to 39 years. Several international and regional organizations active in the fields of traffic safety and the prevention of road accidents refer to the youth who are aged between 16 – 30 years old. This is also consistent with the economic level of the various countries of the world, and the social situation and family status.
Why Focus on Youth? There is no future without youth. Youth category represents the beating heart of the nations and the people’s march towards progress and prosperity. It is important to cope with the difficulties and the challenges efficiently and effectively. The safety of youth thinking and good planning and management prepare the youth for the future and preparing the future for young people. It means that the focus on establishing of an integrated system to ensure young people the right to health, safety and sound education balanced in an environment that is safe and immune from all kinds of risks that threaten their lives. We should provide them with all the ingredients that will help them to develop their talents and and building their way firmly in life.
An international conference with the theme “Youth and Road Safety … Challenges and Solutions” takes place in Abu Dhabi on November 27 to 28, 2013. A conference organized by The Emirates Traffic Safety Society (ETSS), La Prévention Routière International (PRI) and Arab Road Safety Organization (AROSO).