The Gambian government, in collaboration with Shell Marketing (Gambia) Ltd, World Health Organisation (WHO), and other stakeholders, last Monday April 23, launched the Global Road Safety campaign at a ceremony held at July 22nd Square in Banjul.

The campaign is part of a series of activities marking the commemoration of the United Nations Global Road Safety week. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Road safety for young users, drive to live.”

Ousman Sonko, Secretary of State for the Interior, who deputised for President Yahya Jammeh, the Gambian leader at the launch spoke about the commitment of The Gambia government in improving road safety in the country.

SoS Sonko described road accidents as amongst the major causes of death in the world and in Africa, in particular. He revealed plans for The Gambia government to institute a National Commission on Road Safety(NCRS) which, according to him, will be mandated to address road safety related issues in the interest of sustainable national development.

The Interior SoS spoke at length on numerous measures that need to be put in place in order to reduce incidences of road accidents, killing innocent road users.

He equally decried reckless driving, especially the use of mobile phones while driving, unqualified drivers, alcoholism or drunkeness while driving, etc.

Alhaji Omar Taal, Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare, who deputised for SoS Tamsir Mbowe, described road safety as a matter that should not be treated in isolation, noting that everyone has to be a stakeholder in the issue. He expressed concern about the impact of road accidents on the socio-economic development of any country.

Julius Freeman, Chairman of Shell Marketing, The Gambia Ltd, and Country Representative, said Shell Marketing International will participate and contribute fully to the Global Road Safety Week and beyond.

“Over the next few weeks various activities will be organised to highlight some of the precautions that can be taken to reduce the incidences of road accidents, such as a workshop for students and a visit to the University of the Gambia (UTG) to engage future road users, organising defensive driving workshop for the License Department of the Gambia Police Force, customers of Shell Marketing and a visit to the road accident victims at the RVTH to see the impact that road crashes may have on our lives.

Mr Julius therefore calls for a change of attitude towards road safety by all and sundry.