Road Safety Ambassadors Rafaela Miltiadous and Marina Kyriakou were awarded today for their significant action over the past year in efforts to cultivate road awareness in Cypriot society.
According to a press release of the Ministry of Transport, the awards were presented by Minister Yannis Karousos and Minister of Justice and Public Order Stefi Drakou, at a ceremony held on the occasion of the completion of the term of office of the two Ambassadors and the assumption of office by Road Safety Ambassadors 2022 Alexis Demetriou and Michael Sofokleous. Present at the event were, among others, the Minister of Defence Haralambos Petrides and the Chief of Police Stylianos Papatheodorou.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Transport said that the institution of Road Safety Ambassador was established in Cyprus in 2021 in the framework of the Road Safety Strategic Plan 2021-2030, following the example of other countries. Mr Karousosos described the action of the Road Safety Ambassadors as commendable, which he said "contributed to the success of the institution of the Road Safety Ambassador from the very first year of its implementation."
He added that in the last two years a series of initiatives and actions have been promoted, which resulted in a significant reduction of road traffic fatalities. In 2019, there were 52 road traffic fatalities with the number decreasing to 48 in 2020 and 45 in 2021. "Although the overall reduction is almost 14% compared to 2019, we still have a lot of work ahead of us," he noted."
A key goal for the 2021-2030 period, Karousos said, is to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030. A key factor in achieving this goal is to change people's attitudes towards safer driving through a series of actions.
The Road Safety Ambassadors focused, among other things, on their participation in TV and radio campaigns, information spots, media interventions and the implementation of activities to inform and raise awareness among schoolchildren, students and other groups.
"Mrs. Rafaela Miltiadous and Marina Kyriakou have served the institution with zeal from the first day of their appointment, with the main focus on raising awareness on issues of road behaviour and road awareness, the need to respect the traffic code and especially the need to realize that on the roads, we are not the only users and we have the obligation to show the same respect to all road users", said Mr. Addressing the Road Safety Ambassadors 2022, the Minister called on them to focus their action on raising awareness among young people, making a positive contribution to the cultivation of good behaviour among road users.
Addressing the Road Safety Ambassadors 2022, the Minister called on them to focus their action on raising awareness among young people, making a positive contribution to the cultivation of good behaviour among road users.
"Our common goal is to convey the message that we are all vulnerable on the road and that driving under the influence of drugs, not wearing a seat belt and helmet or using a mobile phone while driving is not cool, but can be fatal and can even take our lives," he said.
For her part, the Minister of Justice referred to the positive contribution of the Road Safety Ambassador institution in raising awareness of road safety issues and cultivating road awareness.
Referring to the selection of the first Road Safety Ambassadors, Ms Drakou noted that Ms Miltiados and Ms Kyriakou were recognised for their passion for road safety and their commitment to developing initiatives to change road culture.
"Your dynamic presence and hard work, with enthusiasm and professionalism, resulted in the institution being embraced by the world," she noted, adding that through their approach and action, Rafaela and Marina contributed to the creation of a generation of more conscientious drivers.
Drakou stressed that the common goal of all is to achieve the "Vision Zero", i.e. zero casualties on the roads of Cyprus.
In his address, the Minister of Defence, Mr. Haralambos Petrides, described road collisions as a modern scourge. "The sad numbers testify that even more needs to be done. As the Ministry of Defence, we are relentlessly promoting the inculcation and establishment of road awareness among our National Guardsmen and young officers. Through seminars and other activities, such as the institution of free bus transportation, we try to send the right messages and protect our children," Petridis said.
The Defence Minister praised the work of the outgoing Road Safety Ambassadors and, welcoming the new Ambassadors, made special reference to the strength and will with which Alexis Demetriou faced an unexpected life development following an accident he had while serving his military service.
Thanking the Ministers of Transport and Justice for giving them the opportunity to be the first Road Safety Ambassadors in Cyprus, Mrs Marina Kyriakou and Mrs Rafaela Miltiados referred to their vision of creating a safe road network where all people, pedestrians, cyclists, motor vehicle drivers, people in wheelchairs, can travel safely.
After the accident I had, I made it my goal, Rafaela said, to help and give back in any way possible so that no other family would ever feel the uncertainty that follows a road collision.
We tried, through our experiences, to raise awareness among citizens of all ages about the responsibilities and rights we all have on the roads, Marina Kyriakou said.
Receiving their appointment letters from the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Justice, Michalis Sofokleous and Alexis Demetriou conveyed their readiness to contribute through their experiences and experiences to the collective effort, continuing the work of Rafaela and Marina.
I will try, said Mr. Sofokleous, through my professional capacity, but also by making use of my passion for driving, to contribute to the effort to raise the awareness of more of our fellow citizens in the observance of the Road Traffic Code.
The fact that about 30% of road collisions involve our young fellow human beings, Demetriou stressed, we must target the younger generation, in schools, camps and places where young people are.
Source: KYPE
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