Traffic and Road safety: National Road Safety Council holds 2nd meeting

The 2nd work coordination meeting of the National Road Safety Council-NRSC was held at the Ministry of Transport and Communications in Nay Pyi Taw on Friday.

In his speech, Chairman of the National Road Safety Council-NRSC Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister Admiral Tin Aung San said that the meeting was held to implement work programs and plans to have more achievements by reviewing on undertakings of NRSCs to successfully carry out traffic and road safety measures of Myanmar in accord with National Road Safety Action Plan (2021-2030) and reducing to 50 percent of the number of deaths in 2020 that is the base year for calculating the number of deaths due to traffic accidents by 2030.

According to the Global Status Report on Road Safety (2018) by WHO, about 1.3 million people die each year in average due to road accidents worldwide and more than 50 million people are injured.

In 2018, up to 1.35 million people lost their lives and it is found that the numbers of injured people are not decreased but increasing more.

In addition, among the main causes of death, road accidents ranked the 8th in the first decade and it has been reviewed that it can reach the 3rd place in post years of 2020 which is the 2nd decade. Due to road accidents, 3 percent to 5 percent of GDP is lost in most countries every year.

The Union Minister also clarified on implementation of Decade of Action for Road Safety in accord with 5 pillars and reducing the number of deaths due to traffic/road accidents by half in 2030 by adopting 12 voluntary targets, the policy and plans of NRSC and stressed on following traffic rules and emphasis on implementation of quick win plans and action plans adopted by NRSC, installation of road signs, descriptions and signals since constructing a road for the traffic and road safety and calculating construction design systematically.

Later, Vice Chairmen of the NRSC Union Ministers U Myo Thant and Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung discussed work programs to be implemented as the objectives and aims of National Road Safety Action Plan (2021-2023).

Official and secretaries of relevant committee and sub-committees reported on progress of works, implementations on the 1st meeting decisions. Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman, Region and State Chief Ministers and region/state ministers and officials reported on completion on the decisions of NRSC meeting and undertakings on National Road Safety Action Plan (2021-2023) and 5 Quick Win Plans.

After that, Union Ministers U Maung Maung Ohn, U Khin Maung Ye and Dr Thet Khaing Win and attendees discussed violation of traffic rules, systematic monitoring, take actions, First aid and safety measures, emergency tips in case of traffic accident, arrangements for public awareness and road signs and signals.

Before concluding the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister Union Minister Admiral Tin Aung San coordinated the needs on the reports.