Dozens of new pedestrian safety messages installed across Bishkek
This week pedestrian safety messages have appeared across Bishkek as part of our EASST partner PA Road Safety’s campaign to raise public awareness about the importance of keeping safe on the roads.
Earlier this year, we published a groundbreaking report in partnership with PA Road Safety and the UK Embassy in Bishkek examining pedestrian safety in the city. The report revealed that out of 570 people killed or injured on the roads in Bishkek in 2017 more than 48% were pedestrians and 22% were children under the age of 16.
Making roads safe and accessible for pedestrians, particularly those who are most vulnerable such as children, the elderly and people with disabilities, is vital to ensuring social and economic sustainability, and is of critical importance in Kyrgyzstan where a highly disproportionate number of lives are lost on the roads every day.
As such, with the support of the Soros Foundation-Kyrgyzstan, PA Road Safety have made a start by painting a massive sixty-eight pedestrian safety reminders at road crossings across the city. The bright yellow inscriptions have been designed to attract attention and remind pedestrians to take action when crossing the road.
The messages are primarily aimed at young people and/or parents, reminding them to take their children by the hand, to take off their headphones, or to put down their phones as they cross the road.
In addition, a series of billboards, supported by the OSCE, have been installed at major intersections urging to remind drivers of the importance of safe road user behaviour. Messages include properly fastening children into car seats, staying bright at night and being aware of pedestrian crossings.
This campaign by PA Road Safety is part of a much wider strategy to improve roads in Bishkek, focusing on the most dangerous road crossings, and save lives.
