Good morning everyone. It is indeed a great pleasure to be at today's event, because I have the opportunity to meet and talk with a very promising group of the population, our National Guardsmen, our new generation, our young drivers.
An event which is part of the actions decided with my colleagues, Minister of Defence and Minister of Transport, to inform you about road safety issues, with the aim of creating a generation of conscientious drivers.
It is with regret that we have been watching in recent days the dramatic increase in the number of fatal road collisions, which have reached 22 since the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, among them is one of your fellow National Guardsman.
Prevention and road safety are some of the most important tools we have at our disposal to combat serious and fatal road traffic collisions, which we aim to reduce by 50% by 2030.
On the part of the Police and the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, we are constantly working with the National Guard for your training, which includes visits to camps, lectures and experiential workshops around the province, with the participation of road safety teams.
This effort is also enhanced by the participation of Road Safety Ambassadors, which is crucial as they convey messages through their experiences, lessons learned and knowledge as seen in the two videos prepared by the Road Safety Council.
Our aim is to raise awareness through the telling of real stories, like Alexi's, and to inform you about the alternatives offered by the National Guard for your travel, as Michael said.
As part of the Road Safety Week, which is taking place these days in camps all over the country, the Police have assisted with the implementation of interactive workshops through the use of simulation goggles and the training vehicle provided by the Driving School of the Traffic Department.
Several of you have driven or will drive the special traffic police car with a co-driver instructor and auxiliary pedals, while wearing the simulation glasses. You will experience first-hand what it is like to drive under the influence of alcohol, excessive fatigue or the use of addictive substances, to understand for yourself the danger we put ourselves in by driving under these circumstances.
Dear National Guardsmen,
Driving is everyone's privilege and as drivers we should know that each of us behind the wheel has a responsibility to "maintain" safety on the road network.
To be safe, first ourselves and then other road users, we must above all observe the basic rules of the road. For you young drivers, driving is a new experience which I am sure you are looking forward to.
By obtaining your driving licence, you now have a real sense of independence in your journeys without being dependent on your parents.
But don't let your confidence and enthusiasm get the better of you. Driving, like everything else in life, takes a lot of practice and experience to be able to appreciate and manage the dangers on the road.
You know, it only takes a few milliseconds to have a fatal traffic collision. Those few milliseconds determine the distance between life and death. That is why I urge you to protect yourself and those around you.
The human life, health and well-being of every citizen are invaluable assets, especially for you young people who have the whole future ahead of you.
That is why you should seriously consider the consequences of careless and irresponsible driving without using the safety equipment on offer. Both on a personal, family and social level. You are invaluable to your own people and to society, because you are the future of this country.
And don't forget, road safety is everyone's business. It concerns our lives, our everyday life, our family and our own people.
So drive with care, because there will always be someone waiting for you at home.
I wish you all a good term of office.
Thank you.
(NG/EXP)
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