Road Safety Institute “Panos Mylonas” in collaboration with United Nations for global initiatives on Road Safety measures

October 8^th, 2015

PRESS RELEASE

Road Safety Institute “Panos Mylonas” in collaboration with United Nations 

 for global initiatives on Road Safety measures

Road Safety Institute (R.S.I.) President Mrs. Vassiliki Danelli-Mylona met in Geneva on October 6^th, 2015 with the United Nations Secretary General Special Envoy on road safety and President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Mr. Jean Todt, to discuss road safety issues of vital interest and crucial importance. Mrs. Mylona extensively informed Mr. Todt on the initiatives and activities R.S.I. is implementing successfully for the last decade that have been proved as best practices and also have been adopted by many countries. Through collaboration it can be proven that there is a strong potential to decrease road fatalities and injuries through raising awareness, training and education but also changing behaviors to protect all road users. Mrs. Mylona also committed to carry on working with the same enthusiasm and dedication on this valuable mission. Mr. Todt encouraged Mrs. Mylona’s support on his extremely demanding role as UN Special Envoy for Road Safety and on his significant mission to fight against the carnage on the world’s roads that are causing an unacceptable human, economic and social cost for societies, thus protecting millions of lives.

On October 1^st, 2015 a consultation on Road Safety took place at Palais des Nations in Geneva. At the multi stakeholders consultation, the key speakers, were Mr. Christian Friis Bach - Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Mr. Jean Todt - the United Nations Secretary General Special Envoy for Road Safety, Mr. Jeffrey Witte - President, Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety, and Ms. Margie Peden - Coordinator, Unintentional Injury Prevention, World Health Organization. The program and action plan Mr. Todt presented at the consultation, included the advocacy for road safety at the international, regional and local levels to commit decision-makers to take action. Mr. Todt also aims at establishing a special Fund for ensuring the program sustainability in support of under developed as well as developing countries that suffer from road crashes resulting to serious and fatal injuries. Mr. Todt, driven by a great sense of responsibility and sensitivity regarding pedestrians and children, who belong to the most vulnerable road users, also announced the production of a film under the FIA Action for Road Safety campaign “SaveKidsLives” (available to watch here).

R.S.I. participated in the consultation within his role as UN ESOSOC Consultative Status and a distinguished Institution for undertaking and implementing initiatives and actions that have been proven as good practices on an international level with valued contribution to road safety. It is worth mentioning that R.S.I.’s activities have been recognised and commented in relative resolutions of United Nations General Assembly.

Some indicative R.S.I. activities are the implementation of educational interactive programs, workshops and research projects during the 23^rd World Scout Jamboree in Japan (you can find the relative press release here, and the video here), during summer 2015, while in  October 17^th2015, R.S.I. is organizing for the 9^th consecutive year the European Night without Accidents which takes place in 25 different cities around Greece. Within the following period we are also expecting the commencement of the Referral Centre (NEST) for Road Safety that will operate in co-operation with local governmental authorities and will host certified educational programs for safer road practices.