New road safety campaign targets speeding nationwide

(Kaieteur News) – Dozens of road safety stakeholders recently gathered at the Watooka Guest House in Linden for the launch of the Socially Inclusive and Gender Responsive Road Safety Awareness Communication Strategy, being implemented by the Ministry of Public Works through consulting firm FRED Engineering.

The strategy is a key component of the Linden to Mabura Hill Road Upgrade Project, funded by the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). With the overarching message “Be the reason everyone is safe,” the strategy was developed through extensive consultations involving community leaders, public and private sector representatives, youth and civil society organisations. It includes a six-week nationwide speeding campaign and a community-based general road safety campaign.

According to a press release, CDB Programme Manager, Infrastructure Partnerships (UKCIF), Sharon Griffith, applauded the initiative, noting that “infrastructure alone does not guarantee safety.” She said the true measure of a road is whether people can use it safely, reliably and equitably.