A Youth Rally was held, yesterday, from the Plaisance Mall to Gandhi Square in Rose Belle in the context of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2023. The Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Mr Alan Ganoo; the Chief Government Whip, Mrs Naveena Ramyad; and the Parliamentary Private Secretary, Mrs Teenah Jutton; were present.
In a statement, Minister Ganoo highlighted that the Youth Rally is the fourth activity which is being organised to pay tribute to victims of road accidents and to sensitise the population on road safety. He recalled that a mass was held on 18 November 2023 at the Chapel of St Luc in Residence Kennedy, followed by a Motorcycle Road Show from the Plaza Municipal Hall in Rose Hill to the parking of Tribeca Mall in Ebène on 19 November 2023. A distribution of helmets to motorcyclists was also held on 20 November at the Belle Vue Total Gas Station.
Minister Ganoo added that after the Youth Rally in Rose Belle, a training on defensive driving for Taxi Operators will be held at the Plaza Municipal Hall of Rose Hill on 23 November 2023. He urged the population to wear a white ribbon on 24 November 2023 as a sign of solidarity to road accident victims.
Furthermore, he observed that the number of road accidents victims have increased since last year from 108 in 2022 to 117 since the beginning of 2023 as at date. Among the 117 road victims, he indicated that 36 were pedestrians and 55 motorcyclists. He consequently appealed to road users to change their attitudes and behaviours to improve road safety.
Minister Ganoo affirmed that reducing the number of road accidents and casualties is one of Government’s priorities adding that all necessary measures are being taken in this endeavour. Government, he stated, is investing massively in road safety campaigns, upgrading of infrastructures, and tightening of laws in a bid to curb road fatalities. He also recalled that the Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, chairs the National Road Safety Commission, set up so as to oversee and implement road safety strategies.
He however deplored that many road users adopt reckless and careless behaviours such as speeding, consumption of alcohol, intake of drugs and poor attitude on the road. He urged pedestrians and drivers on the need to be vigilant and to abide by traffic laws at all times.
The Youth Rally was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at a stele at Gandhi Square in Rose Belle in memory of road accident victims.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
The objectives of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims are amongst others, to provide a platform for road traffic victims and their families to remember all people killed and seriously injured on the roads; acknowledge the crucial work of the emergency services; and draw attention to the generally trivial legal response to culpable road deaths and injuries and advocate for an appropriately serious response.
It also aims to advocate for better support for road traffic victims and victim families as well as promote evidence-based actions to prevent and eventually stop further road traffic deaths and injuries.
The theme for this year is Justice with the slogan Remember. Support. Act. Each year, more than 1,35 million people die on the roads globally.
