LINKAGE Q3 (2023) - LEARN, EMPOWER, SUSTAIN
I
nformation
and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have emerged as a powerful tool in
improving road safety. By harnessing the capabilities of ICTs, governments,
organisations and individuals can better manage and mitigate road safety risks.
To
recognise the need for focus in this area, TATT celebrated World
Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2023 by hosting an art
competition titled “Leveraging ICTs for Road Safety”. The
competition had 61 entrants who entered 33 digital and 28 two-dimensional
pieces, by artists from five to over 60 years. Each submission communicated the
theme.
The
Prize Giving Ceremony for the art competition was held at TATT’s Offices in
Barataria on 16 September 2023, at which Deputy Chairman Dr. Kim Mallalieu said
the winning pieces would be featured in TATT’s upcoming campaigns to “…heighten
awareness of the need for responsible use of ICT in driving, and the role that
ICT can play in reducing road injuries and fatalities.” She stressed,
“What more powerful a vehicle, no pun intended, can we use to send the message
than the creations of our people – young and not-so-young alike?”
Cynthia
Reddock-Downes, Chief Executive Officer of TATT noted, “Art has a unique
ability to transcend boundaries and connect people from all walks of life. It
speaks to our emotions, imagination, and opens up new horizons. It is a
universal language that allows us to communicate on a deeply profound level”.
Why
ICT and Road Safety?
ICTs
and road safety has been a focus of TATT’s work for over a decade. The International Telecommunications Union
started advocating for ICTs in road safety in 2011, when then UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon launched a global initiative to increase actions to save lives on
the world’s roads: the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. In
2022, the WHO assessed that road traffic accidents cost most countries 3 percent of their
gross domestic product. They reported that road traffic injuries were the leading cause of death for
children and young adults aged 5–29 years, and although
approximately 60 percent of the
world’s vehicles can be found
in low- and middle-income countries, 93 percent of the world’s fatalities occur there.
To
provide a local perspective, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service issued a
media release indicating the road traffic accident death toll for 2022 was to
90 persons, compared to 74 for 2021. Of particular concern was the fact that
pedestrians accounted for the largest category of road users being killed on
the roadways, with 35 deaths compared to 29 deaths in 2021, a 20% increase.
Looking
at these local and international figures, TATT believes there is a continuing need
for action in two areas:
1)
Through the appropriate
use of road safety technologies, e.g. setting up and paying attention to
in-vehicle alerts such as speed limit alerts
2)
Discouraging the misuse
of ICTs likely to affect concentration on the road.
The
winning pieces can be found on TATT’s website here:
Winning
Submissions TATT Art Competition
.