AA Ceylon/FIA Road Safety Program 2024 promotes “Helmets for kids”

Tuesday, 27 August 2024 02:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Automobile Association (AA) Ceylon has conducted a campaign “Safer Ride for All” in 2014 with a FIA Grant program to educate and influence motorcyclists to wear helmets.

This campaign was successfully concluded with the support of the National Council for Road Safety, Ministry of Transport, Department of Police, Colombo Municipal Council and motorcycle enthusiasts. AA Ceylon said due to strict enforcement of traffic laws, over 98% of adults riding motorbikes wear helmets.

“Need of the hour is to educate parents on the importance of providing a helmet for their children; not just to abide by the law, but for the sake of their children’s safety. 2,515 deaths were reported through road accidents in 2022. Motorcycle accidents accounted for 5,133 people who sustained disabilities along with 806 deaths, 411 of them being children. The World Bank reveals an average of 38,000 crashes annually in Sri Lanka, resulting in around 3,000 deaths and 8,000 serious injuries. They also indicated that over $ 2 billion additional investments are needed to combat road safety issues,” AA Ceylon added.

Stage 1 of this project will aim at educating parents and all motorcycle riders on the importance of providing a helmet to every child accompanied on a motorcycle. The Traffic Police would initially allow a grace period for parents to provide helmets for their kids. Meanwhile, the traffic police, authorities in all relevant ministries, doctors, teachers, parents, students and all motorcycle enthusiasts are expected to be involved in educating the public on “Why every child needs a helmet?” Stage 2 of the project aims at encouraging Police officers to impose fines on motor traffic regulatory violations.

AA Ceylon recalled that the gazette notification was issued by the Transport and Highways Minister on 7 July, 2022, under Section 158 of the Motor Traffic Act. According to the notification, every person who rides a motorcycle, along with the pillion on any road should wear a protective helmet (with or without a visor). Nevertheless, no action has been taken against parents who risk their children’s lives on motorbikes, mainly due to sympathy factors.

With the assistance of the authorities from National Council for Road Safety, Ministry of Transport, Department of Police, The Lady Ridgeway Hospital, National Child Protection Authority, Ministry of Education, Lions club of Hendala and Corporates, we wish to address this national issue and force every motorcycle rider accompanying children to provide ‘a safer helmet for kids’ to protect the future generation of Sri Lanka, AA Ceylon added.