Young people and road safety – a joint resolution
Birta Guðný Árnadóttir and Lilja Ársól Bjarkadóttir, representing the Hafnarfjörður Youth Council, attended a seminar organised by the Grindavík Youth Council, which received a grant from Erasmus+ to hold a seminar on young people and road safety. Around seventeen youth councils took part in the symposium and subsequently issued a joint statement.
Birta Guðný Árnadóttir and Lilja Ársól
The Bjarkadottirs went on behalf of the Hafnarfjörður Youth Council to a seminar organised by
The Grindavíkurbær Youth Council, which received a grant from
Erasmus+ to organise a symposium on young people and road safety.
Around seventeen youth councils took part in the symposium. Also present were the Minister of Transport and Local Government, Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, Þórólfur Árnason, Director of Transport Authority, Kolbrún G. Þorsteinsdóttir from Transport Authority, and others.
Dear guests. The attendees were divided into groups and asked for ideas about
how traffic safety can be improved in this country. The seminar was held on the days
8th-9th November in Grindavík.
See the RÚV news report from the seminar. Here – see at the 10th minute
Following the seminar, the youth councils sent a joint statement to the government.
Joint resolution from seventeen youth councils
Representatives of youth councils at the seminar Our traffic safety is a matter of concern! call on the government to further strengthen education and prevention in road safety and to present a clear strategy and action plan for improvements to public transport and the road network. The success in reducing accidents involving young people in traffic shows that raising the driving age is not the most urgent priority. Increased education and a focus on prevention are tools that must be utilised, and teaching on road safety at all school levels must be significantly enhanced.
It is essential to inform foreign drivers about conditions in Iceland and to improve conditions for tourists. Furthermore, it is long overdue that single-lane bridges are eliminated. In the opinion of young people, it is necessary to separate traffic in both directions on busy roads. Technology will completely transform traffic in Iceland in the coming years, and it is vital to start preparing both the road network and road users for these changes now. Young people are ready to take part in this policymaking. Road safety is our issue!