MIA supports the Tara Malou Licari Fund

SLOW DOWN, SAVE LIVES FOURTH UN GLOBAL ROAD SAFETY WORKSHOP

The Tara Malou Licari Fund, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Malta hosted a workshop in Malta to mark the 4th United Nations Global Road Safety Week on 11 May 2017. The event was also supported by private sponsors including Motors Inc.; Malta Insurance Association and Corinthia San Gorg Hotel.

Stakeholders from WHO Regional Office for Europe, government, nongovernmental organizations, foundations, civil society and youth were invited to a one day workshop focusing on road safety and managing speed in Malta. They joined the global effort along with stakeholders from more than 100 countries worldwide to commemorate the Global Road Safety Week during 8-14 May. It focused on raising awareness about the dangers of speed and the benefits of slowing down.

Road safety is a priority on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goal 3.6 has a target to reduce road traffic injury deaths by 50% by 2020, when compared to 2010. The overall goal of Global Road Safety Week was to contribute to saving lives on the world’s roads, thereby furthering progress towards Sustainable Development Goal targets 3.6 and 11.2.

Road crashes are responsible for over 84 000 premature deaths annually in the WHO European Region, and are the leading killer of young people aged 5–29 years. Thirty percent of road crash deaths are among pedestrians and cyclists, some of the most vulnerable on the roads. Progress is being made in Europe and there was a 8.4% fall in road crash deaths in the Region between 2010 and 2013. Whereas the majority of the countries in the Region report falling death rates, Malta is one of eight countries reporting an increase. Urgent action is needed in many countries in the Region if the SDG target is to be met.

Excessive speed is among the major risk factors for road traffic deaths and injuries and raising awareness about the dangers of speeding has been selected as a priority for the week to help attain the SDG on road safety. The speed of a vehicle is a very important risk factor for both the occurrence of a crash and the gravity of its consequences. A 5% average reduction in speed can reduce fatal crashes by 30%. This is why urban speed limits should be set at 50 km/h and reduced to 30 km/h where motorized traffic mixes with pedestrians and cyclists. Intersectoral action is needed at a national and municipal level to implement cost-effective measures using a systems approach to ensure that speed is controlled appropriately and greater road safety attained.

The one day workshop in Malta brought together stakeholders from across government and civil society. Of importance it also engaged with youth, a group at high risk from road crashes. Debates held in colleges simulating an interministerial committee on road safety to prioritize actions. The workshop consisted of a series of key note presentations, videos, panel discussions involving officials and youth to debate recommendations for future action.

The objectives of the workshop were:

1. Raise awareness about the dire consequences of speed and commemorate lives lost
2. Advocate for the benefits of reducing speed
3. Promote evidence-based solutions to manage speed (based on the Safe System approach) to policy- and other decision-makers
4. Gather commitments from policy and other decision-makers on promoted solutions

The workshop concluded with endorsement of a statement calling for key actions to take place and asking the key stakeholders present to report back on progress in a years time.

This Workshop is organised by:

Ministry for Health
The Ministry for Health, Malta’s vision is to actively promote a society that fosters an environment that is conducive to persons attaining their maximum potential for health and wellbeing.

Tara Malou Licari Fund
The Tara Malou Licari Fund, contributed to by friends and family of Tara as well as other donors, is primarily directed towards preventing the loss of life through an increased awareness of the need for Road Safety. Youths are the most vulnerable population, and are both the cause, as well as the victims of serious road traffic accidents. The fund aims to prevent further injuries and loss of life through road traffic accidents, as was the case with Tara Malou, especially among youths and novice drivers.

This Workshop is sponsored by:

Motors Inc
MOTORS INC. Limited is a young yet leading organisation in the automotive industry with over 30 years experience. MOTORS INC., a joint venture between three leading business groups in Malta, Tum Invest, Pater Group and United Group, is the official concessionaire of Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Iveco, Jeep, Hyundai, Kia & Opel brands as well as distributor for Petronas Selenia, Waxoyl and BRC. Motors Inc. customers also can rely on the full suite of repairs, maintenance and after-sales services.

Corinthia Hotels
Corinthia is a collection of hotels founded by the Pisani family of Malta in 1962. We are a family-inspired business,whose timeless family values underpin the Spirit of Corinthia. We like to treat and look after guests as if we were welcoming them back home. We also support and positively encourage one another so that our hotel teams around the world enjoy their work in an inspired yet warmly-spirited fashion.

Malta Insurance Association
The Malta Insurance Association (“MIA”) is the representative body of Maltese Insurance Companies and Insurance Agents representing foreign principals locally. It is also a member of the European federation, Insurance Europe. The MIA has, since its inception, been successful in promoting excellence in service and insurance products, hence protecting the common commercial and trading interests of insurers in Malta. The MIA is also relentlessly seeking to facilitate wider public understanding of local insurance practices, procedures and raise the public awareness about certain issues such as Road Safety. It is an active member of the Malta Road Safety Council which was set up in 2015 under the auspices of Transport Malta.