Tajikistan government launches national media campaign to increase seat belt use
The Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan together with the Office of Automobile Inspection of the Ministry of Interior, this week launched a 12-month media campaign aimed at increasing the use of seatbelts throughout the country.
Developed by EASST, and supported by the World Bank, the ‘Seatbelts – Your Protection on the Road’ campaign aims to address the alarmingly low seat belt usage in Tajikistan and aims to save lives through raising awareness of the benefits of seat belt use and challenging misconceptions.
A recent baseline study conducted by EASST and our local partners Young Generation of Tajikistan (YGT) found that only 13.4% of all vehicle passengers in Tajikistan use seatbelts, with this figure falling to 1.3% in some regions. Seatbelts are designed to prevent life-threatening head and spinal injuries and can reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a crash by about 50%. According to data provided to the World Health Organization for the 2023 Global Status Report on Road Safety, 1,300 people die annually in Tajikistan as a result of preventable road traffic crashes. This amounts to 14 deaths per 100,000 population – the highest rate in Central Asia.
Commenting on the launch of the campaign, Deputy Transport Minister Farrukh Nematzoda said:
“This campaign is an important step towards improving road safety in Tajikistan. By increasing the use of seatbelts, we can significantly reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. We strive to create a culture of safety that will protect all citizens of Tajikistan.”
Emily Carr of EASST added:
“Our research-based approach targets specific audiences with targeted messages. We’re not just asking people to buckle up, we’re calling their attention to patterns of behaviour and misconceptions that prevent them from using their seatbelts, both drivers and passengers.”
The campaign forms part of a wider project to increase seat belt use across Tajikistan which will include a full review of current legislation on seat belt use including the requirements to wear belts, penalties for non-use, and standards for the manufacture and installation of seat belts. We will then recommend improvements with a view to significantly increasing use rates.