THE National Road Safety Council (NRSC) held its second coordination meeting yesterday afternoon at the Ministry of Transport and Communications in Nay Pyi Taw.

First, Council Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Union Minister Admiral Tin Aung San delivered an address, saying that road safety is a global challenge and growing gradually today. According to the worldwide report of WHO, an estimated 1.3 million people are killed in road accidents each year and as many as 50 million are injured. Road accidents are the eighth leading cause of death globally in the first decade and they could reach third place in the second decade in 2020s. Road accidents cost most countries three to five per cent of their GDP yearly. The Decade of Action for Road Safety is implemented following the five pillars. Currently, the Global Plan for the second decade is drafted with 12 Voluntary Targets aiming to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50 per cent in 2030.

He continued that public participation plays a key role in implementing road safety plans, on the other hand, the NRSC has a crucial role in making policies, plans, successive management of the whole processes and balanced controls between supervisions and actions.

Although the 2022 NRSC report shows 94 per cent of road accidents are due to human errors, the condition of the environment, location of roads, designs and road standards are also concerned with the accidents. It should take into account the systematic road signs and directions for road safety when the new road is paved.

Moreover, the Head of the State gave instructions to be the same traffic rules and regulations, directions and road signs in the country and to supervise to follow the existing law, rules and directives. It is also assigned to the relevant central supervisory committee and Nay Pyi Taw, Region/State supervisory committees.

Then, the Admiral highlighted the efforts of NRSC, Nay Pyi Taw, and Region/State supervisory committees for Road Safety Audit and installation of directions and road signs in the first six-month of 2022-2023FY.

He also stressed the need to complete the work processes in time as the budget was allocated as per the existing financial regulations in 2023-2024FY.

Then, NRSC Deputy Chairmen U Myo Thant and Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung discussed the work processes to be implemented as per the visions and missions of the National Road Safety Action Plan (2021-2023).

The NRSC Secretary Director-General of Road Transport Administration Department and relevant secretary of sub-committees reported on the 2022 NRSC report, 12 Voluntary Targets of Global Plan, completed works as per the decisions made at the first committee meeting, National Road Safety Action Plan (2021-2023) and five Quick Win plans.

The attendees coordinated the discussion and the Admiral concluded the meeting after offering the instructions.

MNA/ KTZH

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