12th July, 2019 TONGAN The Ministry of Infrastructure initiated in June a transport sector safety campaign by the Tonga Climate Resilience Transport Project.
This transport sector safety campaign is a continuation of safety campaigns previously conducted in 2016 – 2017 separately for the two transport sectors: land and sea. The now combined transport sector campaign is planned to run until June 2020.
The campaign aims to save lives, change behaviour of the travelling public and reduce traffic, maritime and aviation offenses. Themes were developed to contribute to the aim of the campaign which are; for the road safety – ‘KOE MO’UI ‘OKU TAHA PE” (you only live once), for maritime safety – “MATEUTEU KA KE HAO” (be ready be safe) and safety in air travel – “FIKA ‘ULUAKI E HAO MOE MALU – KA KE HAO MA’U PE (safety first – safety always).
First of the many activities of the campaign initiated in June were text messages transmitted to Digicel mobile users, video clips on national television and radio advertisements on Tonga’s most popular FM stations. Safety messages for land transport remind the public to drive carefully, abide by the traffic rules, not to drink and drive and Maritime safety messages remind ferry passengers to “exercise care” when people are on board and to remain “vigilant and safe” at sea and small boats to have the safety gears on board first such as life jackets, fuel, check the weather forecast and a radio before they go out to sea.
During the Heilala Festivities, transport safety video clips were showcased during the Miss Heilala Pagent talent night broadcasting during the intermissions and the Miss Infrastructure talent quest where the Miss Infrastructure dramatise the road, maritime and aviation safety instructions. Banners were also printed with transport safety messages and were displayed during the float parade to capture the attention of the crowd during the parade.
Upcoming events will include mobile text messages with safety tips for travelling by air, awareness raising meetings with the newly elected District and Town Officers, schools and communities including the outer islands; radio talk back shows with the public, reprinting of roadside billboards that display messages about road safety and maritime safety and production of bumper stickers, posters, safety leaflets with transport safety messages.
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Infrastructure.