Road Safety Ambassadors Rafaela Miliadous and Marina Kyriakou were awarded today for their significant action over the past year in their efforts to cultivate road awareness in Cypriot society. The awards were presented by the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Mr. Yannis Karousosos and the Minister of Justice and Public Order Ms. 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 the Road Safety Ambassadors 2022 Mr. Alexis Demetriou and Mr. Michael Sofokleous. Also present at the event were the Minister of Defence Mr. Haralambos Petrides, the Chief of Police Mr. Stylianos Papatheodorou, the Director General of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works Mr. Stavros Michael, the Mayor of Strovolos Mr. Andreas Papacharalambous and the members of the Road Safety Council.
With road collisions being the leading cause of death worldwide, especially for people up to 29 years old, while at the same time being a major cause of serious injuries and permanent disabilities for millions of people around the world, the aim of the Road Safety Ambassador institution is to inform and raise public awareness on road safety issues and to develop good behaviour on the road network.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works said that the institution of the 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. Assessing the results, Mr. Karousos said that the action of the Road Safety Ambassadors was commendable, which, as he said, "contributed to the success of the institution of the Road Safety Ambassador from the very first year of its implementation."
As Mr. Typically, in 2019, there were 52 deaths from road collisions 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 to do," he said."
A key goal for the period 2021-2030, Karousos noted, is to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030. A decisive factor in achieving this goal is to change citizens' attitudes towards safer driving through a series of actions.
To this end, 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. A relevant video of the Ambassadors' activities is available at https:/we.tl/t-POIWhHiDji.
"Mrs. Rafaela Miltiadous and Marina Kyriakou have served the institution with zeal from the first day of their appointment, with the main concern of informing on issues of road behaviour and road consciousness, the need to observe the road 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 users of the road network", Mr.
Addressing the Road Safety Ambassadors 2022, the Minister of Transport pointed out that, according to statistics from fatal road collisions in the period 2010-2020, about 30% of deaths from road collisions in our country involve young people under 25 years of age. He called on Mr Demetriou and Mr Sofokleous to focus their action on raising awareness among young people, contributing positively to the cultivation of proper 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 away", said Mr.
The Minister of Transport, Communications and Works pointed out that improving road safety is not the responsibility of a single ministry or agency, but a collective effort. He thanked all Ministries and their Departments for contributing to this cause, particularly the Ministry of Justice and the Police, the Department of Road Transport, the Road Safety Team of the Ministry of Transport and voluntary groups. He said that in the coming days, along with the Minister of Justice, meetings will be held with the Ministers of Defence and Education in the coming days to consider ways to better and more effectively promote road safety in camps and schools.
For her part, the Minister of Justice and Public Order referred to the positive contribution of the Road Safety Ambassador institution in raising awareness of road safety issues and cultivating road safety awareness.
Referring to the selection of the first Road Safety Ambassadors, Mrs. Drakou noted that Mrs. Miltiados and Mrs. Kyriakou were recognized for their passion for road safety and their commitment to developing initiatives to change road culture. "Using their skills and experience to help reduce serious road collisions and promote safe driving," she said, among other things.
Addressing the outgoing Road Safety Ambassadors, Ms Drakou described them as women of vitality, optimism and passion, highlighting the role they played during their tenure as Road Safety Ambassadors. "Your dynamic presence and the hard work you performed, 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.
Thanking the two Ambassadors for their contribution and the sensitivity they showed, he underlined that the common goal of all of us is to achieve the "Vision Zero", i.e. zero casualties on the roads of Cyprus. In this direction, the Minister continued, the contribution of Alexis Demetriou and Michael Sofokleous is crucial in informing and raising awareness among citizens, assuring of her Ministry's readiness to provide any support for the successful implementation of their work.
MoD: We are relentlessly promoting the inculcation of road awareness among our National Guardsmen
In his address, Defence Minister Charalambos 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. "The strength and will with which he (Alexis Demetriou) faced the unexpected difficulty in his life is an example for everyone, but at the same time it reminds us that driving is a serious responsibility for us and others around us," he stressed. He added that "Michalis Sofokleous in his professional career, but also in the speed races he participates in, shows us with his actions, the right way for a man to do what he loves, always following the prescribed safety rules".
Road Safety Ambassadors 2021: We should all take our responsibilities to make the road network safe for all users
Thanking the Ministers of Transport and Justice for giving them the opportunity to be the first Road Safety Ambassadors in Cyprus, Marina Kyriakou and Rafaela Miliades 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, Raphaela 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. "What is needed to cultivate a road consciousness and culture is for all of us to take responsibility, whether on an individual or collective level, at the level of the State, legislative framework, public works and the design of a holistic new road network that embraces all users," she said.
We tried, through our experiences, to raise awareness among citizens of all ages about the responsibilities and rights we all have on the roads, said Marina Kyriakou. "My goal was to raise awareness, to show drivers how they can understand other road users, cyclists, pedestrians, a child, an elderly person. It does not matter whether someone has a EUR 200 bicycle or a EUR 200 000 car. We all have the right to travel safely. She conveyed her and Rafaela's intention to continue the effort together with the new Ambassadors.
Road Safety Ambassadors 2022: Someone at home is waiting for us to return safely
Receiving their letters of appointment from the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Justice, Michael Sofokleous and Alexis Demetriou conveyed their readiness to contribute through their experiences and expertise 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 observing the Road Traffic Code.
We are undertaking a difficult task and we are called upon to take it one step further. 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. We need to focus on the causes of traffic collisions and explain the responsibility of each of us. "What I want to get across to young kids is that some people are waiting for us back home. That's why it is good to drive safely and be careful," said Demetriou in a typical manner.
(MKY)
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