Организация WoGeS отметила прогресс в системе безопасности дорожного движения в Либерии

MONROVIA — WoGeS Holding Liberia, Inc. has commended the Government of Liberia and a broad coalition of international development partners for their continued support toward strengthening the country’s road safety system, describing the progress made so far as a significant milestone in Liberia’s public safety and national development efforts. The organization said sustained investments, technical assistance and institutional support from national and international partners have helped advance efforts to establish a more coordinated and standardized road safety education system in Liberia. Philip E.P. Woods II, Founder of NASAPAL Inc. and WoGeS Inc., said the organizations are committed to working with the media and other stakeholders to help advance the national public safety agenda. “I am Philip E.P. Woods, II, Founder of NASAPAL Inc and WoGeS Inc. I want you to know me and these organizations because we are depending on you guys in the media to help the country,” Woods said, emphasizing the important role of journalists and media institutions in educating the public and supporting national development. According to Woods and the management of WoGeS Holding Liberia, effective road safety reform cannot depend solely on government institutions or law enforcement agencies but requires sustained public education and the active participation of citizens, civil society, development partners and the media. WoGeS said it has remained committed to that objective since its establishment in 2008, focusing on the production and dissemination of public safety education materials designed to reach different categories of road users across Liberia. The organization said its early assessments showed that limited access to reliable and understandable road safety information was among the factors contributing to road crashes, fatalities, injuries, poverty and economic hardship in communities across the country. That assessment, WoGeS said, shaped its mission of ensuring that Liberians have access to clear, standardized and modern road safety education that can help individuals understand their responsibilities and make safer decisions while using the country’s roads. The organization specifically recognized the role played by the Liberia Road Safety Secretariat (RSS) and its members, saying the Secretariat has been central to efforts to develop a unified national approach to road safety education and reform. WoGeS expressed appreciation to the Government of Liberia and a wide range of international partners whose support it said has contributed to the development of the country’s road safety framework. Among the institutions acknowledged are the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), World Bank Group, African Development Bank, European Union, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Office for Project Services, United States Agency for International Development, German Development Cooperation, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Irish Aid and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The organization also recognized the ECOWAS Commission, African Union, International Road Federation, Global Road Safety Partnership, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Global Road Safety Initiative and FIA Foundation for their contributions to road safety and public safety initiatives. WoGeS said the collective support of these institutions has helped Liberia make considerable progress toward the development of a unified national road safety curriculum. The organization noted that the Government of Liberia and the Road Safety Secretariat developed a standardized framework that subsequently enabled WoGeS to produce a series of educational materials aimed at strengthening road safety awareness and training. Among the materials produced are the Rules of the Road – Instructor Handbook, Rules of the Road – Student Handbook, and the Rules of the Road – Classroom Presentation Series. WoGeS said it has also developed public safety education books targeting preschool children, including materials on police safety, railroad safety, road safety and fire safety. Another publication, Duty and Responsibility of a Liberian Citizen, has also been developed for preschoolers, while additional civic education materials are currently being prepared. The organization said the materials are intended to support the Government of Liberia’s public safety agenda while also contributing to the objectives of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030. WoGeS said its educational materials are designed to address the needs of virtually every category of road user in Liberia, recognizing that road safety is a shared responsibility that extends beyond drivers. The categories covered include pedestrians, passengers, tricycle riders, scooter riders, bicycle riders, motorcycle riders, three-wheeled vehicle operators, light-duty vehicle drivers and heavy-duty vehicle drivers. According to WoGeS, the educational content was developed using Liberia’s first Highway Code, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Curriculum and the country’s 1972 Vehicle and Traffic Laws. The organization said those national materials were supplemented with road safety education and media resources from the United States Department of Transportation, the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and leading European road safety organizations. WoGeS believes the combination of Liberia’s existing legal and educational framework with international road safety practices can provide a stronger foundation for educating road users and improving compliance with traffic regulations. The organization described the development and production of the materials as a historic milestone for Liberia’s public safety education sector, particularly at a time when road crashes continue to pose significant challenges to families, communities and the national economy. WoGeS, however, said its work is not ending with the materials already produced. The organization is preparing additional specialized training materials that it believes will further strengthen the country’s capacity to train, examine, certify and regulate road users. Among the planned publications are a Driver Education Instructor Manual, a Driver Examiner Training Guide, an Earth-Moving Equipment Rules of the Road guide and a Motorcycle Riders Training Curriculum. According to WoGeS, the additional materials are intended to support a more professional and standardized system for driver education and road user training, while helping Liberia align its practices with international road safety standards. The organization is also calling for stronger partnerships with civil society organizations and other stakeholders to ensure that road safety materials reach communities throughout the country. WoGeS said producing educational materials alone is insufficient if those materials do not reach the people who need them most. The organization therefore wants to work with civil society organizations, media institutions, development partners and other stakeholders to expand the circulation and accessibility of road safety education across Liberia. It is particularly seeking support to develop and distribute educational content in audio, video and graphic formats, recognizing the country’s educational and literacy challenges. According to the organization, using multiple communication formats would make road safety information more accessible to residents who may not be able to benefit fully from conventional written materials. WoGeS said radio, television, digital platforms, community outreach, visual materials and other forms of public communication could play a critical role in ensuring that road safety education reaches people in both urban and rural communities. Woods also emphasized the importance of the media in this process, saying journalists and media institutions have a responsibility to help communicate information that can protect lives and contribute to national development. The organization said road safety should not be viewed merely as a transportation issue but as a public health, economic and social development concern. Road crashes can result in deaths, permanent disabilities, loss of household income, increased medical expenses and significant economic losses, particularly for families already struggling with poverty. WoGeS believes that improved education, stronger enforcement, professional driver training, responsible road use and better institutional coordination can collectively help reduce preventable deaths and injuries on Liberia’s roads. The organization therefore expressed gratitude to the Government of Liberia, the Road Safety Secretariat, donor organizations, multilateral institutions, bilateral partners, development agencies and global road safety organizations for their investments and technical contributions to Liberia’s road safety reform. WoGeS said those partnerships have helped create opportunities for Liberia to modernize its approach to road safety education and strengthen the country’s broader public safety system. The organization maintained that continued collaboration will be necessary if Liberia is to translate road safety policies and educational materials into measurable reductions in road crashes, injuries and fatalities. “Together, we are building a safer Liberia, one trained road user at a time,” the management of WoGeS Holding Liberia, Inc. said in expressing its appreciation to the Government and development partners. The organization also reaffirmed its commitment to working with national authorities, development partners, civil society organizations and the media to expand public safety education and ensure that road safety information becomes accessible to residents across Liberia. For WoGeS, the broader objective is to build a culture in which every road user understands not only the rules of the road but also the responsibility that comes with sharing Liberia’s roads with others. Support Independent Journalism Your support helps FrontPage Africa continue delivering independent, credible, and impactful journalism. Every contribution strengthens our ability to investigate, inform, and hold power accountable while keeping quality journalism accessible to our readers. Support our journalism or subscribe to receive the latest FrontPage Africa stories and updates.