AAC and FIA carry out road and child safety campaigns

• Initiative to drive home importance of having cycle lanes and need to ensure safety of cyclists pedalling for fitness as well as to go to work

The Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC) and the Federation of Automobil Internationale (FIA) in which the former is a member have conducted many projects to minimise the occurrences of road accidents and the repercussions to all road users. 

These programs were conducted as part of the UN’s decade of action for road safety.

AAC and FIA In 2020, AAC and FIA embarked on two projects which can be considered as very essential subject matters insufficiently addressed by the authorities. Importance of using a child safety car seat and implementing proper child restraining laws were focused in the first program launched in the beginning of 2020. 

Recently, as part of the ‘This Is My Street’ campaign carried out by many member countries and clubs of FIA, AAC embarked to create awareness of the importance of having cycle lanes and the need to ensure the safety of cyclists pedalling for fitness as well as to go to work.

AAC is also a permanent member of the National Council for Road Safety. 

AAC said world over, developed countries are paying attention to construct cycle lanes when city planning is done. Netherlands has successfully motivated all senior managers, government officials and many employees to ride to their work places. These effort have not only helped to build healthy nations but have also addressed the carbon emission issue.

Many professional riders, fitness seekers, children and senior managers of corporates who believe in the need to have more cycle lanes, rallied around the AAC to support the campaign organised to promote cycle lanes under the banner ‘Give Us Space’. It was encouraging to note that a few CEOs have already developed infrastructure facilities in their office premises to accommodate employees who ride to work by building facilities such as cycle sheds, bathing facilities and proper changing rooms. 

“We can also follow a trend created in developed countries to declare Friday as the day to ride to work which is sufficiently supported by the town councils and the police to encourage people to ride to work. Statements were recorded from the professionals who train riders for the Iron Man competition, personnel who repair bicycles, professional riders and even from the cyclists who use their bicycle to earn a living ( transport gas cylinders, king coconut sellers, lunch carriers and lottery ticket vendors),” AAC said.

They enlightened AAC on the dangers faced by all cyclists due to the reckless and irresponsible driving/riding of other motor vehicles.