Multi-sectoral Partnership Project on Road Safety
A multi-sectoral on road safety is implemented by the initiative and facilitation of global compact network Georgia. The aim of the project is to develop an online certification course for companies and municipal transport drivers on sustainable road safety standards and rules, to conduct trainings and to raise public awareness on road safety issues.
The private sector, civil society and the state will be engaged in the implementation of the road safety project. The project consists of several phases: trainings for municipal transport drivers; development of an online certification module (companies and municipal transport drivers will both be able to take the course); trainings and discussions for schools and academic institutions; the introduction of the concept of a safe city in municipalities and launching an information campaign with participating companies to raise awareness.
Rusudan Kbilashvili, Head of Public Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility at Wissol Group, believes that companies have a responsibility to contribute to road safety awareness. “The appalling global statistics of fatal road accidents (as we know, 1.35 million people die each year in the world) unequivocally impose the responsibility of anyone who can take any effective steps to change this number. Accordingly, it’s not just the state, businesses, or civil sector that should get involved, but also each person should be involved in raising traffic safety awareness, infrastructure development or improvement of post-traffic medical assistance system. The level of engagement of each sector or the wider community should be determined by the available resources, because only with united forces can we change the harsh reality!”
The creation of an online certification module is being worked on by a group of experts working on road safety
topics. The online module developed in accordance with international standards covers road safety issues such as: the role of infrastructure, transport and people in increasing or decreasing car accidents; driving under the influence; speeding; careless/inattentive/fatigued driving; the importance of seat belts and other safety rules while traveling; safe and attractive streets for pedestrians and cyclists; rules to be followed by passengers; rules for safe travel for persons with disabilities; legislation, obligations under the EU Association Agreement, new regulations and statistics; providing first aid during a car accident, and; the concept of a safe city – green transport, safe infrastructure and moped driving rules.
“Road safety is one of the main challenges for Georgian society, and it hinders the development of the economy along with creating healthcare and social problems. Human tragedies, lost working hours, material, financial losses, increased medical expenses – these make for just a small list of the existing problems. In the current situation, financial losses of the business sector are large, therefore active engagement of business with the state in compliance with the rules of road safety is critical. The sustainable development of the country primarily means safe mobility. Implementing a road safety programme in companies will help spread safe practices in the community,” said Gela Kvashilava, head of the NGO Partnership for Road Safety. In the first phase of the project, in partnership with Gori Municipality and youth organization Changes for Equal Rights, two trainings were held for Gori Municipality public transport drivers about etiquette of behavior with people with disabilities.
Talking about the importance of this project, Toma Kakabadze, head of the youth organization Changes for Equal Rights, said that “the implementation of such multi-sectoral (public, private and non-governmental) partnership projects is very important, because, on the one hand, more can be achieved by combining more resources and, on the other hand, it is a good step towards promoting the establishment of a standard of cooperation between the sectors. The project will also facilitate the exchange of information between sectors, identify new problems and enable the implementation of future joint projects.”
Zurab Jirkvelishvili, Director of the Gori Municipality Transport Agency, says that the agency is always ready to cooperate with the private and non-governmental sectors to ensure passenger safety and raise awareness of traffic rules. “Gori Municipality has recently instituted municipal transport for the first time, which, on the one hand, is very important news, on the other hand, gives us great responsibility as the organization responsible for passenger safety. I would like to point out that passengers’ safety has become increasingly important during the pandemic, as it includes not only road infrastructure, well-trained professional drivers and technically maintained buses, but also anti-Coronavirus measures, as these concern the health of each passenger”. “The involvement of non-governmental and private sector in the work of road safety is crucial to provide information to passengers and drivers and raise awareness on the significant issues. The Transport Agency is always ready to cooperate with private and non- governmental sector,” said the director of the Gori Municipality Transport Agency. From 2021, 30 new buses have been delivered to Gori Municipality. The buses meet all the technical requirements of modern standards. All buses are fully accessible for people with disabilities.
To make modern bus travel safer and more comfortable for passengers, youth organization Changes for Equal Rights Head Toma Kakabadze discussed the issues of safe travel without barriers for people with disabilities, the rules for using ramps and stopping; correct forms of relations with persons with disabilities – terminology, treatment and other issues during the training.
Toma Kakabadze believes that travel without barriers means ensuring equal access to travel for people with disabilities. “The main goal of the training is to inform drivers about the needs of people with disabilities and the proper delivery of services. It is important to have healthy relationships with people with disabilities, who are part of society, which will make it easier for us to learn the rules of etiquette and put them into practice.”
“Also, when we think that a person with a disability needs help, before we decide to act, make sure to ask them directly – do they need help? In case of consent, specify – what kind of help is needed and how to help. With such an approach, we will, on the one hand, avoid embarrassment and, on the other hand, adopt a healthy and non- disrespectful approach to people with disabilities,” said Toma Kakabadze, head of Changes for Equal Rights.
Within the framework of the partnership project, three trainings will be held for 120 drivers of public transport in Gori Municipality on the topic of safe transportation of persons with disabilities.
The project partners include Partnership for Road Safety (working on the online certification module); youth organization Changes for Equal Rights (conducting trainings for safe transportation of persons with disabilities); and other organizations working on road safety (negotiations are underway with a number of organizations). The project also involves local NGOs working in Gori Municipality, the Biliki Society and the Welfare and Development Center. State agencies, such as Gori Municipality, will be involved in the project as well. And once the interests and the level of engagement of the companies are determined, an information campaign on road safety rules will be planned with them.
The idea of implementing a multisectoral partnership project on road safety belongs to the Global Compact Network Georgia. At the project implementation stage, the organization will have the role of facilitator among stakeholders.