Vladimiros Tziortzis has been chosen by Cyprus’ Ministry of Transport, Communication and Works to represent the country as its Road Safety Ambassador as part of the 2023 UN Global Road Safety Week.
As part of Cyprus’ involvement in the UN Global Road Safety Week, Cyprus’ EuroNASCAR star driver Vladimiros Tziortzis has been chosen by the country’s Ministry of Transport, Communication and Works to represent his country as a Road Safety Ambassador.
The news of Tziortzis’ induction to the Road Safety Ambassador program was announced on 15 May, coinciding with the start of the UN Global Road Safety Week activities. The Road Safety Week itself, held every two years following its inauguration in 2011, is hosting its seventh edition in 2023.
“On the occasion of Global Road Safety Week 2023, the Road Safety Council today officially appointed new Road Safety Ambassadors to intensify efforts to raise awareness, educate and inform all road users because, despite the improvement in our country in recent years, the road fatality rate is still higher than the target and certainly far from the ‘vision of zero’ that is our long-term objective,” announced the Cypriot Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works on their official website.
“Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Transport, Communication and Works, Alexis Vafeades, explained that the Road Safety Week is repeated every two years, with a specific central theme each time, aiming to raise awareness and understanding of the dangers of road travel through action to reduce road deaths.”
“More than 1.3 million people die in road crashes every year – more than two every minute – and, according to the World Health Organisation, they are the leading global cause of death among children and young people aged 5-29. ”
“The Minister of Transport welcomed the new Road Safety Ambassadors Michalis Pavlidis and Vladimir Tziortzis and thanked them for accepting the invitation to be Ambassadors in this difficult struggle to reduce road collisions for the benefit of society as a whole.
“He expressed confidence that both Michalis and Vladimir will support this role with the same enthusiasm and passion that they show for their other activities.”
The goal for Tziortzis and Pavlidis as Road Safety Ambassador is to bring awareness on safety in the roads to the Cypriot public. This specific goal is in line with the goals set by United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO) for the Global Road Safety Week, as the theme of #RethinkMobility was chosen to bring awareness towards road traffic injuries and sustainability in transportation.
“For her part, the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Mrs. Anna Koukkides-Procopiou, referred to the important and successful institution of Road Safety Ambassadors, explaining that our Ambassadors to date have managed to raise awareness and convey road safety messages especially to our young people, students, soldiers and road users in general,” continued the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Works on their official announcement.
“He thanked the young Ambassadors for taking on this important role, expressing confidence that through their attitude, ethos, fortitude and course of action, they will serve as positive role models for our fellow citizens and will optimistically convey road safety messages.”
“The two Ministers wished the new Ambassadors well and assured them that the Road Safety Council will stand by them, supporting their efforts in fulfilling the very important task they are currently undertaking.”
Tziortzis, who had secured his first pole position and podium finish in the top EuroNASCAR PRO division and a double victory in EuroNASCAR 2 in Valencia just a few weeks ago, expressed his gratitude in social media after the announcement was made official to the public.
“A big thanks to the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works & the Road Safety Council, for this honor to contribute in my turn to the effort being made to reduce fatal accidents,” said Tziortzis on social media.
“As a race driver since the age of 5, I know firsthand the importance of safe driving both in the races but especially in our daily life, outside the racing tracks. Through the actions that will follow in the next period, together with my friend Michalis Pavlidis we will share moments we experienced, the importance of the seatbelt, not drinking alcohol and engaging in anything else while driving.”
“Let’s not forget that there are loved ones waiting for us to return, just like for every motorsport driver after every race weekend.”
More information regarding the 2023 UN Global Road Safety Week can be checked via the link provided in here.
Disclaimer: Credits for all photos are listed underneath each image.