Michael Schumacher and Karla Gonzalez wear the black and white Make Roads Safe wristbands
Michael Schumacher, the seven times F1 World Champion, has backed the Make Roads Safe campaign. Wearing one of the distinctive black and white Make Roads Safe campaign wristbands, the racing driver, who is also the German member of the Commission for Global Road Safety, met Costa Rican Transport Minister Karla Gonzalez during the British Grand Prix today to confirm his support for the campaign.
Michael Schumacher said: “In my profession as a racing driver I have worked to promote safety in motor sport. We have seen that better design of both cars and circuits have vastly reduced the risks in the sport. The same positive experience can be repeated on the road.
“We know that safer cars and safer roads are vital to reduce death and injury when a crash occurs. Modern cars are much safer due to improved crash protection through air bags, seat belts and crush zones. Good road design can also prevent crashes from happening in the first place. All drivers make mistakes, even the most skilled, and the key point is to try to make sure that the consequences of human error are not fatal.
“In developing countries there is a big increase in motor vehicle use and demand for new roads. That is why the report of the Commission for Global Road Safety places such a strong emphasis on the need to invest in safer roads in developing countries. Better roads will help them avoid a huge increase in road crash deaths.
“We hope that G8 leaders will take up the recommendations of the Report and ask that they consider discussing the issue at their summit this year in Russia or again next year in Germany. We need to make people aware of the real human cost of road traffic injuries. Five hundred children are dying every day and thousands more are being disabled or injured. This is why I support the campaign to Make Roads Safe.”
Watch Michael Schumacher speaking about why he has chosen to support the Make Roads safe Campaign in this short film.
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