Virtual Colloquium and activities for the 6th Global Week. Reduction to 30 km/h on streets. Cities for Life.

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Created: Monday, 07 June 2021 15:33

Virtual Colloquium: Reduction to 30 km/h in streets. Cities for Life.

     For this 6th Global Road Safety Week, promoted by the United Nations, Luchemos por la Vida and Madres del Dolor committed to their main objective of reducing speed to 30 km/h on city streets, reducing deaths and generate safer, green and livable cities, carried out an intense activity in the prior weeks, which culminated in a walk in front of the Buenos Aires City Obelisco, on March 17, as a Global Weekopening activity, to make this premise visible and share it with motorists and passersby and an international virtual colloquium on May 18.

Virtual Colloquium

     The colloquium's title was the trigger for an important meeting with speakers from international organizations and NGOs, national and municipal authorities and over 100 participants throughout the country and the region. The event was opened by Viviam Perrone, Madres del Dolor and the International Road Victims Partnership's founder, and Dr. Alberto Silveira, Luchemos por la Vida's President, and the words of Dr. Etienne Krug, Director of the World Health Organization's Department of Road Traffic Injury Prevention. Then Dr. Pablo Martinez Carignano, National Road Safety Agency'sDirector,convener of this meeting, spoke about the support of the National Agency to the proposal of reducing speed to 30 km/h and the new paradigm of a safer, healthier, green and livable city for all citizens, not vehicle-centric. PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) was represented by María Eugenia Keller, who expanded the vision of this approach within the framework of the new decade of Action for Road Safety, which proposes a 50% reduction in traffic fatalities worldwide. Yolanda Doménech, Director of the P(A)T (Prevention of Traffic Accidents) Association from Barcelona and director of the European Federation of Road Victims (FEVR) spoke about the experience of the reduction to 30 km/h on the streets of Barcelona and the implementation of this measure throughout Spain by National Law, a pioneer in the world.

     Moderated by María Cristina Isoba, Research and Road Safety Education Director of Luchemos por la Vida, the eleven guests were able to present their approaches, projects and local proposals. It was really encouraging to hear the commitment expressed by mayors and the heads of different cities to work for the reduction to 30. Mayors Héctor Gay of Bahía Blanca, Pablo Torres of Laprida, and Gustavo Posse of San Isidro, and the authorities responsible for Planning, Urban Mobility and Road Safety of Buenos Aires and Mar del Plata Cities, shared their projects and achievements on the subject: Bahía Blanca implemented the 30 km/h reduction in the downtown area and Laprida announced the imminent enactment of the 30 km/h ordinance for all city streets. Gastón Arias, from the Ombudsman's Office of the Province of Buenos Aires announced the area's commitment to the proposal. (Watch the video)

     Latin American NGOs views on the subject were also enriching, such as those of Mary Bottagisio, Director of the League Against Road Violence from Colombia, and Esteban Paredes of the Foundation Support Center for Victims of Road Violence Nicole Paredes (CAVAT) from Ecuador.

     Finally, attendees were able to share their projects and experiences and ask questions, closing this wonderful meeting that highlighted the enormous interest in this initiative of speed reduction in all sectors of society, to save lives from the road deaths pandemic that has been plaguing us for decades and for a new model of a less polluted, livable and safe city. Thanks to all who participated for your interest and commitment.