On 17-18 February 2014 in Congaz, Gagauzia and on 19-20 February 2014 in Peresecina road safety training entitled “Safe roads for all” was carried out. The training was provided by the Automobile Club of Moldova (ACM) and its partner Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport (EASST) as the part of the “Capacity building of CSOs to promote road safety in Moldova” project, sponsored by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The project aimed at better understanding on the Bank’s road rehabilitation of projects, improving knowledge and skills of Moldovan Civil Society to enable them to effectively raise awareness about road safety, and in this way, contribute to promoting behavior change of road users.
Peresecina
Local CSOs from Congaz, Svetlii and Peresecina were trained by EASST Director Emma Maclennan, and project managers of the ACM Tatiana Mihailova and Virginia Mandalac, who made presentations on the main road safety issues, road behavior, national Road Traffic Law, showed relevant videos and demonstrated national and international experience of successful road safety initiatives and campaigns. The training participants – teachers, the representatives of the Mayor Offices, Church, rural business, farmers, NGOs working with children and disabled people - had the possibility to be told of the ways how to address local problems related to road reconstruction and road safety. Mr. Octavian Costaș, Acting Head of the EBRD’s Chisinau Office and Senior Banker spoke of roads rehabilitation and road safety at the event. Other invited speakers were from the State Road Administration and local Police. The locals could learn the local plans on reconstruction in Congaz and Svetlii or discuss finished project in Peresecina, Grievance Mechanism, road safety standards and norms in road building safety measures during reconstruction. Local Police Officers replied questions of the training participants on the Road Regulations and Contravention Code, discussed road statistics and road safety in the country and their localities.
At the final sessions of the training the participants developed their action plans, which could be implemented as follow up in their localities (road safety education for children, raise awareness in media, cooperation with Police, ACM and other stakeholders, farmers and disabilities issues were mentioned).
Each participant was awarded with the Certificate of participation and useful materials such as brochures on seat belt use, pedestrian safety, first aid; reflectors and high-visibility vests. T-shirts, road safety board games and puppets for schools were donated from the UK by the EASST, Children's Traffic Club and Ten Alps Communicate. The farmers and owners of horse carts, motorcyclists were invited to be presented with the high visibility vests as they are at most risk using the local roads especially at night time. The issue of visibility of farmers, pedestrians and cyclists will be raised as one of the main one within the follow up activities. As result of the conducted training, the locals requested the ACM to do further training with farmers in Congaz, and it was discussed organizing further road safety awareness training with the police.
The second round of the training will be carried out on 17-21 March 2014 in Hincesti, Leova and Chisinau.
News coverage, see from min. 2,45: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j_N4HIMrrg#t=311