Awareness Workshop on Road Safety Under the Slogan: “Travel Safely and enjoy the Beauty of the Country”

The Secretary General of the Ministry of Equipment and Transport, Ms. Amiziza Mint Kerbali, presided over the opening of an awareness workshop on road safety in Nouakchott on Monday, organized by the Road Transport Regulatory Authority under the slogan: “Travel safely and enjoy the beauty of your country (Safe Autumn).”

This two-day workshop is part of national efforts to reduce traffic accidents and raise awareness of road hazards, especially during the fall season, which typically sees an increase in road traffic.

In her speech, the Secretary-General emphasized that road safety is a collective responsibility that requires the combined efforts of the state, the private sector, and civil society, stressing the pivotal role played by drivers, who are responsible for the lives of those inside their vehicles.

She added that leadership is not merely a technical skill, but rather a moral and religious obligation that requires vigilance and discipline, in accordance with the teachings of Islam, which place the preservation of human life at the highest level of legitimate objectives.

She emphasized that the organization of this workshop is part of the implementation of the directives of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, which seek to place citizen safety at the heart of public policy through infrastructure development and enhanced awareness and coordination among various stakeholders.

She also praised the initiative launched by the Road Transport Regulatory Authority, considering it part of a comprehensive national strategy aimed at establishing a culture of road safety and linking it to its humanitarian, economic, and tourism dimensions, thereby enhancing the country’s image and increasing confidence in its road system.

For his part, the head of the Road Transport Regulatory Authority, Mr. Al-Hassan Ould Aouane, explained that the workshop is a continuation of efforts to reduce traffic accidents, which he said are the second leading cause of death worldwide after natural diseases, resulting in about 1.5 million deaths annually, at a rate of one death every 24 seconds.

He added that the 15-29 age group is the most affected by these accidents, resulting in significant economic and social losses that affect the most productive segments of society.

He pointed to a number of measures taken, including: launching an annual award for the best driver and the best transport company, suspending road transport at night, which contributed to reducing accidents, installing weighbridges at the entrances to the capital, and other weighbridges under construction at the entrances to the country to protect the road network from deterioration and reduce maintenance costs.

The workshop was attended by the secretaries-general of the ministries of youth empowerment, employment, sports, civil service, interior, decentralization and local development, and health, as well as representatives from relevant sectors and civil society.