The Safe Roads 4 Youth project is a three year project that develops tests and evaluates a flexible framework to address drink driving prevention in emerging countries taking into account cultural diversity. This project carries out preventive interventions at community level, aimed at mobilizing their citizens, better train local players and prevents drinking and driving in different communities, starting with young adults. The effects of actions will be evaluated in each case, in order to understand the influence of local culture and social representations and the effectiveness of their actions.
The preventive actions are being undertaken in 3 different countries: Vietnam, Argentina and South Africa. The project will be developed in each country in partnership with major non-profit organizations - Handicap International in Vietnam, Luchemospor la Vida in Argentina and Global Road Safety Partnership in South Africa - and specialized research teams from local universities.
Global Road Safety Partnership South Africa together with South African Red Cross Society and the research team from Stellenbosch University has been approached to coordinate the project for South Africa to evaluate and implement the Safe Roads 4 Youth project in Belhar, Cape Town, with Strand as a control area, and, Nelspruit in Pretoria, with Polokwane as a control area. They will be working with provincial road safety, city council and councillors, traffic enforcement (city / province) and South African Police Service, schools in the community, youth groups, culture groups and other various NGOs to make the programme a success.
The project’s objective is to improve the understanding of the impact of cultural factors in the effectiveness and efficiency of drunken driving preventative actions. Results will be disseminated internationally, in order to promote effective community programs to prevent drunk driving and improve road safety.
The project’s objectives are in support of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011 – 2020.
For more information on the Safe Roads 4 Youth project in South Africa or Vietnam and Argentina please click here.