National Road Safety Council to Receive Royal Award for Road Safety

Jamaica’s national coordinating body for road safety promotion, the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is to receive the prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Award. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, Member of the British Royal family and Patron of the Awards, will present the Award to the NRSC during his five-day unofficial visit to Jamaica, April 14 to 19, 2013.

Announcement of the Award was made today in London by the Commission for Global Road Safety.

HRH Prince Michael of Kent will visit Jamaica as Guest of Honour and Guest Speaker at the 20th Anniversary Dinner of the National Road Safety Council to take place on April 17, and at which Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller will receive the Award.

In congratulating the National Road Safety Council on receiving this international award, His Royal Highness said: “In Jamaica we have seen how effective leadership and a concentrated effort by a dedicated team can make a real difference and save lives. What the NRSC has done over twenty years is impressive and serves as an example to other countries both small and large.”

Expressing her delight on learning of the announcement of the Award, Prime Minister Simpson Miller said: “We are truly grateful to His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent for recognising our efforts in encouraging responsible road usage in Jamaica. This Award and the visit of Prince Michael to make the presentation will not only bolster the efforts of the NRSC but serve to inspire even greater levels of inter-sectoral collaboration toward achieving further reductions in road fatalities and injuries.”

Other highlights of visit of Prince Michael include the hosting of luncheon by The Governor-General His Excellency The Most. Hon. Sir Patrick Allen; Courtesy Calls on Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition and visits to the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre and the Mona Geo-Infomatics Institute, at the University of the West Indies. Prince Michael will also view a road safety demonstration in a simulated road traffic environment at the Mona Primary School, as well as participate in a Roundtable Discussion at the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing.

The HRH Prince Michael International Road Safety Award is presented to organisations in recognition of outstanding achievement and innovation which improve road safety.

Since its establishment 20 years ago, the NRSC has implemented advocacy and other programme initiatives which have helped in reducing casualties on Jamaica’s roads, with the number of road traffic deaths showing steady decline over the years, to below 300 last year.

Notes to Editors:

HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO is a cousin of Queen Elizabeth. He is Royal Patron of The Commission for Global Road Safety.

Prince Michael International Road Safety awards are made to organisations in recognition of outstanding achievement or innovation. First established by His Royal Highness in 1987 in The United Kingdom, the first international award was made in 2001 and the Prince has now committed his awards to support The Global Decade of Action for Road Safety.

www.roadsafetyawards.com

About The National Road Safety Council

Established in 1993 as a non-profit organization by public and private sector interest groups, the mandate of the NRSC is:

* To develop and implement road safety strategies and activities in the areas of engineering and traffic environment, enforcement and legislation, emergency response and public education.

* To act as a national coordinating body and advocate group for the promotion of road safety.

* To conduct public education programmes.

The NRSC is chaired by the Prime Minister and its Council includes representatives of the police, other public sector bodies, the private sector, Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association, Jamaica Automobile Association and the Drug Abuse Secretariat. Activities are undertaken with the overall aim of reducing the level of crashes and lowering the cost to society both in terms of human suffering and financial cost.