Promoting road safety for soldiers

JOINT action aimed at raising awareness on road safety among young men serving in the National Guard has been agreed by the Defence ministry and activist group Initiative for Road Safety.

According to a written statement, on Monday Defence Minister Fotis Fotiou hosted a meeting with a delegation from the group, headed by Humanitarian Affairs commissioner Katie Clerides.

At the meeting, the aims and work of the group – made up of volunteers who have either been victims of or lost loved ones in road accidents – were discussed, and suggestions on how to further enhance cooperation with the defence ministry were exchanged.

Fotiou congratulated the group for its voluntary efforts aimed at raising awareness and educating young people on road safety, and pointed out that this issue is one of the ministry’s priorities and described road accidents as one of the biggest social problems the country is faced with.

Stressing the importance of cooperating with the Initiative for Road Safety, Fotiou said the ministry will support any effort aiming to educate Cypriot youth on the consequences of traffic accidents.

During the meeting it was decided that the first joint action will begin in the coming weeks at a military camp in Nicosia, in order to raise awareness among soldiers through empirical discussion with the group’s volunteers.

Concerted action will continue in other National Guard camps, with the goal of promoting road safety and the negative impact of traffic accidents.

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