“Everywhere for everyone” – Raising awareness on road safety on this World Red Cross Red Crescent Day

08/05/2016 – Colombo, Sri Lanka: All around the world, every hour of every day, the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement is at work. World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day – celebrated each year on 8 May – is an opportunity to recognise the amazing work of volunteers and staff who go out saving lives and changing minds every day.

World Red Cross Red Crescent Day is held annually around the globe on 8 May, the day that Red Cross Red Crescent founder Henry Dunant was born.

Today in Sri Lanka the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society has launched a campaign to raise awareness on road safety among the public. Accordingly volunteers will be touring the city streets across the nation raising awareness about road safety and how important is for the public to be aware of road rules and safety.

Sri Lanka’s roads were deadlier than ever last year, with the highest number of traffic deaths on record. More than 2,700 people were killed in road accidents in 2015 – an increase of more than 300 from 2014. This means an average of 7.5 people died each day on our roads on average in 2015 – a jump from 6.6.

Nearly 60 per cent of serious accidents are caused by single-vehicle accidents in which heavy vehicles travelling fast crash into a pedestrian or fixed object.

The campaign aims to raise awareness among the drivers, pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists. Our volunteers will provide a booklet of information to the public which contains vital information on being safe on the road. It also gives details in how you can provide first aid in time of an accident.

You can also download the booklet by clicking here (Sinhala Version)

 Here are some pictures of the campaign getting underway in Colombo.