Virginia Barcones highlights the work done by the third sector in support of traffic accident victims

• The Government delegate in Castilla y León has been present at the event held on the occasion of the World Day in Remembrance of the Victims of Traffic Accidents • Underlines the importance of complying with road safety standards and explains that one in every two deaths who do not wear a belt could have been saved if they had taken it • “We are going to continue working on prevention, awareness and on getting out of the way those who with their breaches endanger the lives of others”, has meant

November 19, 2023.- The delegate of the Government in Castilla y León, Virginia Barcones, participated in the event that took place in Valladolid on the occasion of the World Day in Remembrance of the Victims of Traffic Accidents. He highlighted the work that the third sector does in support of victims and stressed that it will work on prevention, awareness and “getting those who endanger the lives of others out of the way”.

The event took place in the Plaza de Portugalete, where it was invited by the organizers, Fundación Avata de Ayuda al Accidentado, AESLEME (Association for the Study of Spinal Cord Injury), the Motera Platform for Road Safety and the Association of Motoclubs of Valladolid.

He has indicated that last year 136 people died in Castilla y León, data that are bad, such as those that are taking place in 2023. So far, 113 people have died on the Castilian and Leonese roads, 11 of them in Valladolid, and 59 people have been hospitalized. “These are bad data because with every death on the road, a wound opens up in our society. Every time a message arrives with an accident, a deceased and two seriously injured, the blood stings,” added the delegate.

He also recalled the importance of following road safety standards. To wear a belt, not to drive if alcohol or drugs have been consumed, to respect safety limits. “One in two of those who died without a belt could have saved their lives,” he said.

In 2022, 36.5% of the deaths on the roads, 54 people, lost their lives because of a distraction. So far this year there are 52 people, 46% of the total. “Behind half of fatal accidents is distraction. A second we use to see the phone, to play the radio can be the difference between life and death,” he said.

He has described as “commendable” the actions carried out by organizations such as those that have prepared the event held in Valladolid. “The work done from the third sector is spectacular. We get together today but we work together every day”, he said to add that we must provide all possible help to those who suffer the consequences of an accident because “life goes on”.

Virginia Barcones, has pointed out that the day should serve as a memory of the victims and also an awareness for all those who put themselves at the wheel because “nobody is free to be a mortal victim of a traffic accident or to suffer its consequences.”

In this regard, he has affirmed that the campaigns that control and awareness of the General Directorate of Traffic will continue to be carried out: “We are going to continue working on prevention, we are going to continue working on awareness and we are going to work on getting all those who, with their non-compliance, put the lives of others at risk”.

Virginia Barcones has also thanked the General Directorate of Traffic for its work, that of the 1,300 agents of the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard in Castilla y León as well as the firefighters involved in the accidents. “There are things for which one is not prepared, neither are you. All our appreciation for your work, which is to save lives,” he said.

The World Day of Remembrance for Victims of Road Accidents is an initiative that began in 1993 with RoadPeace and in 2005 the United Nations General Assembly endorsed its celebration on the third Sunday of November.

In the province of Valladolid the organizing associations have held prevention and awareness activities throughout the week in schools and institutes of the province as well as the drivers themselves. During these actions they have counted on the collaboration of the Civil Guard and several municipalities.

During the day, groups of motorcyclists, cyclists and other users have been arriving at the Plaza de Portugalete. Once there, there was the delivery of a bond of solidarity, an emotional musical performance by students of the Conservatory of Music of Valladolid, as well as the reading of a manifesto. The act ended with a minute’s silence and a floral offering.

The delegate of the Government has been accompanied by the subdelegate of the Government in Valladolid, Alicia Villar, and the regional coordinator and provincial head of Traffic in Valladolid, Inmaculada Matías, among other authorities.