The goal is to reduce serious road traffic accidents by 50% by the year 2030 across the world.
BELIZE CITY, Mon. June 6, 2022
Today, the CEOs of several ministries met to sign on to a proclamation pledging support for the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety. First launched in October 2021, the Global Plan for the Decade of Action was developed by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Today the government ratified its support to realize the goal set out in the action plan, “to reduce serious road traffic crashes and serious injuries on the highways by 50% by the year 2030,” a release from GoB states.
The proclamation was signed by the chief executive officers from the ministries of Economic Development; Transport; Education; Health & Wellness, Infrastructure Development, and Housing; Finance; and National Security, along with a representative from the Belizean Youth for Road Safety. The second road safety project, centered on the United Nations Pillars of Action for Road Safety, is being funded by the Caribbean Development Bank.
The Project Manager, Zane Castillo, stated today at the official signing, “Whereas the government of Belize in conjunction with the Caribbean Development Bank has already demonstrated its commitment to implementing successful road safety projects through the country’s first road safety project, whereas the government of Belize is executing its second road safety project, and whereas the long-term road safety plan for Belize has already set its target of preventing at least 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. Therefore, the government of Belize on June 6, 2022, pledges it support for the Decade of Action 2021- 2023.”
In Belize, road traffic accidents are frequent and many times fatal. Just last weekend there were three accidents in the vicinity of Belize City, and another fatal accident in the south.
“Unfortunately, as of April 30, 2022, 16 fatalities resulting from road traffic incidents have been recorded─an average of four per month,” a release from the government of Belize states.
The second road safety project is aimed at strengthening the capacity of relevant stakeholders to provide mental health care to victims of accidents.
“Currently, the post-crash care system only focuses on the important short-term goal of saving lives, concentrating on physical recovery; however, little attention has been given to the mental health effects on both victims and relatives. To address this, the Second Road Safety Project, through relevant stakeholders, will also strengthen the capacities of key Belizean professionals working in emergency services and post-crash care by imparting knowledge and skills in psychosocial support,” the release outlines.
The mentioned ministries, along with the Police Traffic Unit, municipal traffic departments, BERT, and PAHO, continue to partner for the execution of this second road safety project.