(CREAD)- In a significant stride toward promoting road safety and inclusivity, a gender-responsive and socially inclusive road safety awareness workshop was conducted with resounding success. The workshops were organized by CREAD in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works, Public Utilities and Digital Economy as a component of the Loubiere to Bagatelle Road and Bridge Rehabilitation Project, which is being funded by United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) and administered by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
On Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th May, 2023 representatives from 25 organisations across Dominica. Participants engaged in fruitful discourse aimed to address prevailing disparities in road safety practices while also raising public awareness of responsible road behaviours among road users. Facilitated by FRED Engineering, the workshops placed emphasis on encouraging active participation of Dominicans in road safety initiatives.
Over the two days, participants actively collaborated to devise solutions that were sensitive to the cultural, economic, and social contexts of various communities. For instance, the workshop highlighted the need for accessible infrastructure for people with disabilities, safe public transportation options for road safety campaigns and responsible road user behaviours. These will lead to the creation of a Gender Responsive and Socially Inclusive Road Safety Awareness Communication Strategy that is evidence-based and informed by extensive consultation. Stakeholders overwhelmingly supported and endorsed seatbelt wearing and helmet campaigns, outreach packages for Grade 5 students, local council involvement in leading community-based activities and feedback mechanisms to monitor and evaluate strategy implementation.
Education and awareness were at the core of the workshop’s success. The workshop also utilized innovative methods, such as videos real-life road accidents, to deepen participants’ understanding of road safety challenges and foster empathy.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the two-day workshop, CREAD’s CEO, Ambassador Francine Baron emphasized that a key part of resilience is ensuring that there is well-planned and durable infrastructure. She added that an Enhanced Collective Consciousness is also integral to Dominica’s road to resilience and speaks to mindsets and behaviours that underpin respect, dignity, and peace among all citizens, ensuring that no one is excluded or left behind.
During his feature remarks, Honourable Fidel Grant, Minister of Public Works, Public Utilities and Digital Economy said, “The safety and well-being of our citizens remains of paramount importance to this administration as we recognize that road safety is a major issue that affects the lives of our citizens.” He continued by stating that over the past ten years, Dominica has recorded over 100 deaths due to road traffic collisions, an average of 10 lives lost per year and said, “The number of accidents, injuries and fatalities on our roads is simply unacceptable, and we are committed as a government to taking decisive action to address this issue.”
The remarkable success of the workshop was made possible through the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders. Government agencies, non-governmental organizations, road safety experts, community leaders, and representatives from marginalized groups to ensure sustainability and long-term impact of road safety initiatives.
Continued efforts and collaborative partnerships will serve as a foundation for ongoing improvements in road safety practices to ensure a more inclusive and secure future for all road users. CREAD will therefore continue to work assiduously with stakeholders to strengthen road infrastructure and achieve its mandate of building Dominica to becoming the world’s first climate resilient nation.
