Avis Budget Group continues assisting people in road traffic safety
Avis Budget Group continues assisting people in road traffic safety
Avis Budget Group, a leading car rental service with operations in Laos is helping motorists here to drive more safely while also encouraging stronger application of traffic rules in the country.
The group combines two international brands and has its headquarters in the USA. It has carried out a driver safety programme since 2015 with the aim of providing free teaching of road rules to young people to ensure that they are more responsible for themselves and others by obeying traffic regulations.
The Group's Operations Manager, Mr Alberto Correra, who is very woried about accidents, gave an exclusive interview to Vientiane Times recently from Europe, saying that the group has operated in Laos for 25 years and that it not only wanted to do business here but also wanted to give something back to the community.
By carrying out such a safety programme the intention of the Group is to help solve the issue of rising accidents which has become a big challenge in the country and is threatening the safety of all drivers on the roads at the moment, Mr Correra added.
According to the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security it was reported that 3,746 accidents were recorded nationwide over the eight months from January to August, involving 714 fatalities last year. Some 5,935 people were also injured while 6,883 vehicles were damaged.
The Department notes that motorbikes were involved in 95 percent of the accidents, with 90 percent of those dying in accidents being male.
The main causes of the accidents range from speeding to thenegligence and violation of other traffic rules such as drinking and driving. The lax application of the rules also contributes to the high risk of accidents.
The Group says it will conduct the course during weekends when people are usually free from work and study.
The course will be taught by the company's specifically selected drivers and will give adviceand knowledge to participants around driving, traffic rules and the maintenance of vehicles.Knowledge on proper maintenance of vehicles is very important to the course. For instance, if drivers do not change their tyres when necessary, it could be detrimental to their safety and others.
Around 300 people participated in last year's course with the targeted group being those between 25 and 40 years old. Surprisingly, 50 percent of these participants do not have their license but still continue to drive cars and ride motorbikes.
�The driver safety programme is a big effort for us. Despite being a large company, I think we should do what we can to give back to the country where we have operations. As we see many people dying from road accidents here, the question becomes �What can I do?' not �What should they do?'�Mr Correra says. At the same time, he wantsto urge the police across the country to strictly be checking motorists during traffic stops as many of them do not have their licenses, do not wear helmets or break other rules like having multiple riders on a single motorbike, or driving the wrong direction down roads.
As founders of the programme, the Avis Budget Group strongly believes that it will benefit the obeying of the country's traffic rules. It says it has even created advertisements at local car dealers which encourages interested people to come and talk to the company's drivers who will take some time to explain traffic rules and regulations, kind of like a small driving school.
The people who come to learn will b e given clear explanation onwhat to do in the case of an accident, including being told that they should not leave the scene of the accident as it is a risk not only tothemselves but others.
Mr Correra also says that �� one can definitely drink but if they chose to do so they should not drive. Unfortunately it's too easy to drive after drinking in Laos.�
The Group has done a lot of safety training so far and now would like the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to be involvedin its activitiesas it can better explain things to the general public. However, the firm has not yet had the chance to discuss this with the Ministry.
Mr Correra continues, �This is not just a story that applies to falang (foreigners); it's simply the rules of the road and most of those rules are international. The red lines designating no parking is not only in Laos, it's around the world. It's everywhere.�
�We are the private sector and we have our own responsibilities but the Ministry lies in the public sector which means they have to make sure that rules must be applied and followed.�
Seizing vehicles is one measure that police can take when they stop and find motorists d o not have driving licenses. In addition, the installment of cameras is needed too because it will help manage traffic and control violations. Alternative transpor t facilities could also be very necessary, he suggests.
For these reasons the Avis Budget Group strongly pushes its' driver safety programme and encourages other car rental services to get involved.
�Yes, we are fundamentally doing business to earn money for our pockets but we still must ask what we can do for the general public.� Mr Correra said.
The Group will continue its free driver safety programme while there are still people that need to be educated on traffic rules and regulations, learning to take more responsibility for themselves and others.
