Dhaka, Mar 6 (UNB) – US-based oil and gas company Chevron has launched a multi-year road safety programme in Bangladesh’s Sylhet region.
Chevron Bangladesh President Neil Menzies officially inaugurated the community road safety awareness program recently at the premises of Bibiyana Gas Plant, said a press release of the organisation.
Chevron operates three gas fields in Sylhet region which are Bibiyana, Jalalabad and Moulavi Bazar.
The programme, to be implemented by Skills-Craft Associates, will emphasize vehicles and drivers operating on two major thoroughfares near Chevron’s Bibiyana and Moulavi Bazar facilities in Nabiganj and Srimangal Upazilas respectively.
According to the 2018 Global Status Report on Road Safety released by the World Health Organization (WHO) last December, the number of WHO-estimated road traffic fatalities in Bangladesh stood at nearly 25,000 in 2016.
Chevron officials said the programme is intended to build awareness on safe road behaviours and build drivers’ defensive driving skills, with a goal of reducing traffic accidents.
Two-day training and knowledge sharing sessions in both catchment areas will be available to 300 drivers of three-wheeler auto-rickshaws and light delivery vehicles.
In addition, half-day sessions will be organized to summarize the training content for 200 people, including respected members of the local community, transport associations and educational institutions, the Chevron said.
Some of the programs will cover a range of topics including traffic laws and signage, on-road demonstrations and driving coaching, causes of collision and collision prevention techniques, and consequences of speeding and over-loading.
Chevron’s Director for Policy, Government and Public Affairs Ismail Chowdhury, Director for Health, Environment & Safety Ashiq Rahman, Bibiyana Gas Plant Superintendent Don Lewis, CEO and Lead Trainer Skills-Craft Associates Mahabub Alam and other representatives from Bibiyana Gas Plant’s Leadership Team were also present at the programme.
Menzies distributed certificates to the first group of 30 Nabiganj-based drivers who successfully completed the two-day training session. Speaking on the occasion, he lauded the initiative, as it taps into the need for the community to increase awareness of safe driving and pedestrian behaviours.