Decisions concerning the implementation of actions for the road safety of National Guardsmen were taken at today's meeting of the Ministers of Transport, Communications and Works Mr. Yannis Karousos, Defence Mr. Charalambos Petridis and Justice and Public Order Ms. Stefis Drakos. The meeting was held following a meeting held by Mr. Karousos and Mr. Petridis in the previous period, during which a working group was set up with the participation of officials from the Ministries of Transport, Defence and Justice, which examined relevant recommendations. Also present at the meeting were Road Safety Ambassador Alexis Demetriou and members of the Road Safety Council.
Speaking after the meeting, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works said that a very productive meeting was held and a plan was drawn up with various actions to be taken targeting the National Guardsmen and the camps.
Mr. Karousos pointed out that a Road Safety Week will be organized in the camps in the coming period "with the aim of all National Guardsmen to receive information on road safety and suggestions and proposals and to be informed through interactivity on some issues related to road safety. That week there will be visits to almost all National Guard camps by both us Ministers and Road Safety Ambassadors and experts so that they can be briefed on road safety issues".
In addition, the Minister of Transport said that the Ministry is proceeding with the creation of videos on the use of buses and caution on the road network, in collaboration with the Road Safety Ambassadors, which will be shown in the camps to inform all soldiers. At the same time, Karousos said, the Department of Road Transport, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, will conduct training seminars and education in the camps on road safety and safe movement of loads by vehicles.
Also, in the coming period, seminars will be organized targeting parents of National Guardsmen, as an important group, in the effort to reduce traffic collisions. Also, Karousos said, the Road Transport Department will include in the process of obtaining a driver's license mandatory information on road safety issues, as well as specific relevant questions to be asked to the examinee during the theoretical examination.
According to Karousos, the three Ministries will also proceed to evaluate the information material used in the camps on road safety issues and will make updates where and when necessary. At the same time, the Transport Minister noted, we will make use of the Road Safety Ambassadors, particularly Alexis Demetriou, who has personal experience to pass on to the National Guardsmen.
Finally, in consultation with the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Transport will consider the possibility of including stops on existing public transport routes to serve specific camps.
As Mr. Karousos said, "cultivating good road awareness and culture and understanding that all road users are vulnerable is a primary objective for all of us. We cannot afford to lose human lives on the road and see families plunged into mourning because of careless and reckless driving. We are not dudes when we drive without a seat belt and helmet or because we answer our cell phone text while driving or because we couldn't stop for a glass of wine on our night out with friends. We all need to keep in the back of our minds that driving is not a game to have fun with the gang, to always remember that our mother, father, brothers, sisters, and children back home are waiting for us to return safely."
For her part, the Minister of Justice and Public Order noted that, despite the fact that the actions implemented include actions for prevention, eight of our fellow human beings have died in road collisions. "This shows us the way that we are not stopping, we must intensify all our efforts in order to achieve our goal by 2030, to reduce accidents by 50%."
Referring to the excellent cooperation with the relevant Police Traffic Department of the Police, the Minister noted that lectures are held to National Guardsmen and said that in 2021, 2,400 people attended the lectures. "Therefore, in our effort to continue this downward trend, we will continue these lectures in the hope that our messages, and with the help of our Ambassadors, will reach our young people and the gravel that is needed for both parents and themselves to understand the problem and cultivate road awareness in them," she noted.
Ms. Drakou also said that during the road safety week, the Police will conduct interactive workshops using simulation goggles and a training vehicle, with the participation of the National Guard. This will give the National Guardsmen the experience, through the goggles, to see what happens when they drive tired or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We believe, Ms. Drakou explained, that by experiencing these conditions, they can better perceive and avoid certain situations that we know are causes of traffic collisions.
Through the action plan that we have drawn up through the cooperation of all stakeholders, we hope to bring better results and prevent the loss of lives on the roads, the Minister of Justice concluded.
In turn, the Minister of Defence welcomed the actions agreed upon at today's meeting and pointed out that, the Ministry of Defence is already successfully implementing the free movement plan for National Guardsmen, which has contributed greatly to the reduction of road accidents. "We have a total of around 99 different routes, it is a measure that we want to maximise in the best possible way," Petridis stressed. In addition, together with the National Guard, it was decided to grant a 24-hour honorary leave every four months to those who make exclusive use of the Free Movement of Soldiers Plan for all their days out. In addition, Mr. Petrides said, cooperation with the Ministries of Transport and Justice, as well as with the Police and the Road Safety Council, to hold annual lectures in camps in an effort to pass on the right messages to young drivers.
At the same time, the Defence Minister noted that the Ministry is participating in the Road Safety Week co-organised by the Ministries of Transport, Justice and Defence, and at the same time, the National Guard and the Department of Road Transport are expanding their cooperation in training in relation to the proper way of transporting materials, personnel and handling dangerous cargo.
In conclusion, the Minister of Defense stressed the need for everyone, State, organizations, educators, citizens and families, to join together in this effort to effectively address the problem of road collisions. "Only by instilling road awareness and faithful adherence to the Road Traffic Code will road collisions be minimized and we will stop mourning, unjustly, victims," he said.
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