WHO Country Office supports the Government of Turkey in its efforts to increase seatbelt use through local action
WHO
Despite improvements in road safety, some 1.25 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes, according to WHO's "Global status report on road safety 2015" launched on 19 October 2015 in Geneva, Switzerland.
However, the number of road traffic deaths is stabilizing even though the number of motor vehicles worldwide has increased rapidly, as has the global population. In the last 3 years, 79 countries have seen a decrease in the absolute number of fatalities while 68 countries have seen an increase. Countries with the most success in reducing the number of road traffic deaths have achieved this by improving legislation and enforcement, and making roads and vehicles safer.
Within this framework, on 4–5 November 2015, a team from the WHO Country Office in Turkey including Dr Pavel Ursu, WHO Representative to Turkey, visited Erzincan Province in eastern Anatolia, Turkey to strengthen local action and intersectoral collaboration on road safety.
The visit included:
- a training programme for members of the media explaining the importance of the use of language in writing the news on road safety;
- high-level discussions with the Governor of Erzincan, Mayor of Erzincan, Rector of Erzincan University, Security Provincial Director and Public Health Director in the Province; and
- the launch of the Provincial Intersectoral Road Safety Strategy and Plan of Action for 2016–2020 for Erzincan Province.
The Strategy and Plan of Action is composed of several components including:
- coordination
- capacity building
- special interventions (legislation review, risk analysis etc.)
- social marketing and public education
- monitoring and evaluation.
Continuous commitment by all stakeholders required
Speaking at the launch ceremony of the Strategy and Plan of Action, Dr Ursu underlined the importance of multisectoral cooperation to achieve the expected targets, giving successful examples from previous enforcements in pilot provinces. He says, "To maintain this success, continuous commitment by all stakeholders is required. We believe that our partnership and whole-of-province approach will help us to overcome the road traffic crashes and deaths. We thank you for the implementation of comprehensive and effective road safety policies that has already saved thousands of lives."
"If they would like to see their beloved ones again, they have to wear their seatbelts. I strongly advise all passengers to fasten their seat belts," says Mr Süleyman Kahraman, the Governor of Erzincan Province. He adds, "I would like to call on all our partners and stakeholders in road safety including public institutions and nongovernmental organizations to join us in our efforts to increase the level of seatbelt use. We will take all necessary measures and issue a provincial circular for the enforcement of the Plan of Action throughout the province."
