Road accidents kill nearly 1.3 million people internationally every year

Thursday,12 May 2011

By : Jameel W. Karaki KUWAIT: Road accidents kill nearly 1.3 million people annually, leaving millions more injured or permanently disabled around the world. Thus, the United Nation has launched the "Decade of Action for Road Safety" on Wednesday, in order to help all countries drive along the path to a more secure future. This Campaign, which is expected to last till 2020, was the result of a unanimous resolution taken by the United Nations. On this occasion, Resident Representative of the UN Development Program (UNDP) in Kuwait Dr. Adam Abdul Mawla explained that the problems of transportation occur due to failure of public institutions, the private sector and the society to establish a national transportation system which is acceptable socially and economically, as they fail to recognize the present needs and considers the future demands. Abdul Mawla asserted that the campaign aims to protect the lives of more than five million person, prevent the injury of 60 million and to raise three trillion American dollars globally within the next 10 years, which will contribute to the economic growth and social development, improving security and humanitarian conditions at the developing countries.  He also expressed his happiness for the Kuwaiti National strategic plan for the period of 2010 to 2020 based on the demands of the United Nations campaign. Abdul Mawal highlighted the importance of the role of the Traffic Department and the transportation sector, the need to allocate a ministry to be in charge of coordination between institutions and a strategic plan where new planning concepts should adopt safety measures regarding construction in addition to dealing with black points.  Moreover, he stated that the campaign calls nations to develop the skills of the security forces and ensure accident medical care and the rehabilitation of injured people. On his part Khaled Al-Khamess, Assistant Secretary General for Administrative and Financial Affairs of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development said, "The Traffic plan will deal with several issues related to the traffic problem in Kuwait," noting that Kuwait's strategy in this regard aims to achieve Sustainable Development. Brigadier General Saleh Al-Najem added that Kuwait organized a comprehensive strategy to improve the transportation sector by preparing a proposal to establish a public authority of transportation, ensuring safety measures and standards on roads as well as for vehicles and improving the emergency medical services. http://watanpdf.alwatan.com.kw/alwatanPDF/WatanDaily/2011-05-12/3.pdf