According to the World Health Organization, road crushes are the leading cause of death among individuals aged 5-29 years. Speakers made this statement during a workshop aimed at increasing young people’s knowledge of the Global Safe System Approach and encouraging their active participation in road safety initiatives.
A youth orientation on the Global Safe System Approach was organized by the Health Sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission on Sunday (December 8) at 10:00 AM in the organization’s conference room in Shyamoli, Dhaka.
The workshop, was moderated by Road Safety Project Coordinator Sharmeen Rahman and session led by Dr. Shariful Alam, Country Coordinator of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, who featured the discussions on the Safe System Approach and the gaps of existing Road Transport Act 2018.During the session, he also emphasized the importance of ensuring the five pillars of global safe system approach: multi-modal transportation and land-use planning, safe vehicles, safe road, safe road users, and post-crash response. He further stated that the current law is focusing on only transport sector and the road safety issues is totally absent in the current law. Hence, there is a need for a comprehensive road safety law and its effective implementation.
Another session on “the safe road users” was conducted by Kazi Shifun Newaz, Assistant Professor, Accident Research Institute, BUET. During the session, he highlighted five key behavioral risk factors of road users.
The welcome address and certificate distribution were conducted by Md. Mukhlesur Rahman, Deputy Director, Health Sector, Dhaka Ahsania Mission. Representatives from various youth forums, including the Nirapod Sarak Andolon and Youth Policy Forum, were present at the event.