 |
 |
The workshop, held
in Muscat, Oman at the end of November 2005, was organised
by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA),
which includes 13 nations from the Middle East. It was attended
by senior transport ministry officials and road safety experts
from all 13 ESCWA nations, including Oman’s Minister
of Transport and Communications, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah
bin Issa al Harthy.
Together they explored examples of good
practice in areas such as data collection, road safety plans
and behavioural
campaigns to promote seat belt use. Dr Waheed al Karusi,
Chief of Orthopaedics in Oman, highlighted the worsening
trend of road traffic accidents worldwide. He said: “These
were not accidents but avoidable crashes that can be prevented
if the right policies are put in place.”
ESCWA’s Bassam Anani provided an overview of the road
safety situation in the Middle East which like other parts
of |
|
 |
|
Asia
is deteriorating as levels of motorisation rapidly increase.
The workshop concluded with the adoption
of recommendations for ESCWA Member States
to consider and with an agreement to maintain a regional dialogue
on road safety good practice in future.
FIA Foundation Director General David Ward applauded the efforts of the Sultanate
of Oman to promote global road safety. He said: “It is no small achievement
to put a new subject on the agenda of the international community but Oman has
done this. The Sultanate’s sponsorship of a series of UN General Assembly
resolutions has resulted in major progress on road safety; the creation of a
UN Road Safety Collaboration; publication of best practice manuals; and the creation
of a new World Bank Global Road Safety Facility. All of these important developments
have come about because of the initiative and leadership of the Sultanate of
Oman.” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
