“Development of casualty reduction Partnerships in Chisinau and Tiraspol”: final event and results
On 17 July 2013 the outcomes of the developed casualty reduction partnerships in Chisinau and Tiraspol and recommendations for the future work and project sustainability were presented at the final round table entitled “Road Safety and role of local partnership work”. The event was organized in Tiraspol by the Automobile Club of Transnistria (ACT) in partnership with the Automobile Club of Moldova (ACM) within the “Development of casualty reduction Partnerships in Chisinau and Tiraspol” project of the “Support to Confidence Building Measures” Programme funded by the EU and co-funded and implemented by the UNDP. The 1 year project has been implemented since July 2012 and supported by the external partner from the United Kingdom - Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable (EASST).
EASST experts from the UK and Georgia, key stakeholders from each municipality from Chisinau and Tiraspol (police, local transport, health, emergency departments, etc.), representatives of UNDP Moldova attended the event of 17 July.
The ACM The ACM and ACT made their presentations on the project activities thus far conducted, such as training for local stakeholders, different actions on roads, an exhibition at the “Security-2012”, working round tables, lessons and meetings with children at the Security School, participation in Europe Day by promoting road safety messages and materials, organizing actions within “Long Short Walk” and Global Road Safety Week, development of the brochure on the first medical aid in case of an accident “Be informed, be safe”, supported by the members of developed partnerships in two cities.
The given activities resulted in the development of two partnerships to prevent road traffic collisions in Chisinau and Tiraspol. Local experts involved in the partnerships together with the Clubs made a consistent analysis of statistical data, created their visions to identify solutions to improve road safety and worked out their action plan, as well as shared their own experience with colleagues from across the bank of the Nistru River. There has been a registered decrease in the number of road crashes in both cities - 18.5% reduction in Tiraspol and 16.3% in Chisinau.
“The project is promising as road safety starts locally where stakeholder meetings are usually more useful and effective then dozen meetings of the central government. It stipulates local authorities to be more responsive to the needs of their constituencies and allows citizens to engage in local traffic safety improvements and resolving black spots”, said Mr. Gela Kvashilava, an invited EASST expert and Founder/Chairman of the Board of the "Partnership for Road Safety" in Georgia.
Mr. Mark Salisbury, Kent County Council in the Emergency Planning Team Manager praised the project results and highlighted the importance of developing partnership activity on a local level: “It is important to have a common vision that should be simple and stipulate to work in partnership with the aim to create a safe environment for every road user. The mission or vision should be at the forefront of a joint strategy included priorities and specific objectives, e.g. the percentage casualty reduction for specific time period and values, such as integrity and professionalism.
Local stakeholders from Tiraspol and Chisinau presented at the round table expressed their pleasure to be part of such an innovative project and considered very important solving one of social problems such as road safety in partnership with all interested and relevant players.
At the event closing all the representatives of the developed partnerships (police, health, rescue service, transport departments, local councils) from both localities were presented with high-visibility vests kindly donated by EASST, Kent Highway Agency and Amey Company from UK.
Learn more:
http://saferoads.md/index.php?view=news&t=eu_and_un_officials_in_moldova_with_acm
http://saferoads.md/index.php?view=news&t=development_of_parterships_to_reduce_the_number_of_acctidents
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This project is implemented with the assistance of the Programme "Support to Confidence Building Measures” funded by the European Union, co-funded and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The overall objective of the programme is to contribute to confidence building between both banks of the Nistru River by involving local authorities, civil society organisations, business community and other stakeholders, as well as through ensuring economic and social development of local communities
