The Business for Road Safety (BRS) Forum, an initiative formed by the South African Insurance Association (SAIA) in collaboration with other relevant stakeholder business associations, launched its Road Safety Pledge on Wednesday at Midrand Conference Centre.
The BRS forum is intended to enable South African business to have a leading role in finding sustainable solutions aimed at reducing the number of crashes and fatalities. In addition, it seeks particularly to support the efforts of the South African Government, including the Department of Transport in addressing road safety issues. These are activities that we believe could help in contributing towards a safer South African society, while also supporting Government to deliver on its broader international road safety goals such as the United Nations’ Decade of Action for Road Safety.
In a drive to minimise road crashes and reduce injuries and fatalities in South Africa, the BRS forum has as one of its initial projects introduced a “Sit-Well” campaign aimed at educating drivers and passengers in the correct posture in a motor vehicle. The forum has produced a series of videos that will be posted on social media highlighting the risks associated with not sitting properly, unsecured personal belongings and the correct positioning of the steering wheel and seat.
“Road safety is a complex issue that requires collaboration,” says Philip Purnell of the South African Automobile Association (AA), who is the spokesperson for the BRS forum. “We are pleased that a number of CEOs have already signed up to serving as road safety leaders within their organisations, influencing their employees to join the drive.”
The BRS forum will not only endeavour to expand the numbers of such corporate CEOs and companies to cooperate with it towards improved South African road safety but also calls on Government and corporates to commit through a pledge that they will incorporate road safety into their strategies and to help encourage road safety awareness for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
