6th UN Global Road Safety Week (May 17 – 23, 2021)   |19 May 2021

Minister Derjacques

‘Let us all do our part in making Seychelles’ roads the safest’ – Minister Derjacques

“I am truly honoured to be addressing you all today as we step into another exciting week dedicated towards highlighting the importance of road safety.

Back in November 2020, many of you got the chance to participate in a Road Safety Week themed ‘No Need to Speed’.

“As we continue this fight towards safer streets, I am pleased to announce that we can all be part of yet another safety week, on an even grander scale – the 6th UN Global Road Safety. Also targeted at lower speed limits, the #Love30 campaign advocates for Streets for Life by making 30km/h (20mph) speed limits the norm for communities worldwide in places where people mix with traffic.

“First and foremost, let me take this opportunity to applaud each and every citizen who has been actively listening and doing their part in contributing towards safer streets for ALL of us. We have seen a decrease in the number of fatal accidents since 2019, there has been a drastic reduction in the number of pedestrian casualties in the past few years, we have seen a rising interest from the public in regards to road safety, our employees and partners working even harder to support and promote road safety, hence it shows that we are making steps of progression towards our endgame by taking daily action. I salute you and I urge you to keep making a difference, no matter how small, every day.

“However, despite the efforts of many, on one hand we continue to hear and see heart-breaking stories of families who fall victim to gruesome accidents, more time than we would hope to. According to a prediction in the ‘Global Status Report and Road Safety’, road accidents will be the 5th leading cause of death by 2030.

“My dear fellow citizens, this is alarming. If you believe that because we are small then these statistics barely applies to us, you need to take a good look around and recognise that it is our attitude that sometimes invites danger in our lives.

“In August 2020, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 74/299 ‘Improving global road safety’, proclaiming the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, with the ambitious target of preventing at least 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030’. Let us all be a part of a decade of action and work together towards accomplishing life changing goals.

“Let us open our hearts and minds as we welcome a campaign which emphasizes on the importance of safer streets. We need to equip our people with more knowledge and the necessary skills to be able to protect themselves and others, from unnecessary acts of negligence which harm all of us as road users.

“Additionally, we need to come forward with the drive to succeed in this fight for road safety as we continuously find ways to improve in all aspects, from improvements in the design of roads and the type of vehicles we allow on our roads, to the enhancement of laws and law enforcement on behavioural risks such as speeding; and provision for other important lifesaving acts.

“As you are all aware, with the Covid-19 pandemic, we are living in much different times – a new normal. In line with the Public Health Authority’s restrictions in place, unfortunately, we will not be able to take this campaign in the exact direction we had hoped for. Regardless, I am confident that we can still make a positive impact virtually, as we launch this road safety week all over the media with the help of our media partners, and of course each and every single one of you.

“Therefore, to all the experts and enthused group of people who are working in this field, to all the different partners who has meticulously supported this cause till date, to the remarkable individuals who help make a difference in one way or another, thank you. Thank you for showing an interest in a brighter future, a safer future.

“With that being said, I officially declare this Road Safety Week open.

Let this be another week whereby we amplify our efforts, our voices, our support, towards hopefully creating a lifetime of road safety. Life does not have a rewind button, nor does it have a reset button, let us not be careless, let us not jeopardize one’s opportunity at life, let us all do our part in making Seychelles’ roads the safest.”

Antony Derjacques

Minister for Transport