17/05/2019

Launch of the Argentine subsidiary of the Gonzalo Rodríguez Foundation

This landing of the foundation in Argentina is part of a work process that began in 2014 with the training of officials of the government of the city of Buenos Aires, and the first course for trainers of trainers in child passenger safety. In 2016, the commitment of the Argentine authorities crystallizes in the Second International Forum on Children's Road Safety (FISEVI) held in Chile, assuming the work of reinforcing and prioritizing children's road safety, a necessary condition to host the next meeting held two years later in Buenos Aires. Likewise, in 2017, the FGR incorporates Argentina into its work plans for the region in the research phase of the "Latin American Child Traffic Safety" program. Finally, in June 2018, a new milestone is presented in this whole process, when FISEVI Argentina Chapter is developed, in which nearly 400 participants and more than 70 international experts shared tools for the implementation of improvements in children's mobility.

The Foundation is currently implementing three major lines of work in Argentina. On the one hand, it is implementing the program "Latin American Children Safe in Traffic" in five cities (Junín, Guaymallén, Neuquén, Jujuy and Corrientes). Through this program, the safety of school environments was evaluated and recommendations are currently being made to improve their infrastructure. In addition, the campaign "Don't Repeat This Year" seeks to call attention to misconduct as road users.

Similarly, the Foundation is initiating a project to implement improvements in the training of young motorcycle drivers prior to obtaining their driver's license.

At the same time, it is developing the "Child Passenger Safety" program, through which the Foundation trains Argentinean references to promote the correct use of Child Restraint Systems (CRS) from their fields of action, at all levels. Thanks to this, it is expected, in a short time, to have a permanent Check Point[1] in Argentina.

"We want to continue contributing, through the programs we implement in Argentina, to reduce road accidents, so that children move around in a safe and healthy way. According to data provided by the Road Observatory of the National Road Safety Agency, the rate of use of Child Restraint Systems is less than 50% and we understand that with the work we do from FGR we will make the population truly aware of the problem," said María Fernanda Rodríguez, president of the Gonzalo Rodríguez Foundation.

According to the latest official figures, 5,611 people died in Argentina in 2017 as a result of traffic accidents, with 320 victims between the ages of 0 and 14. Meanwhile, the correct use of properly installed child restraints reduces up to 70% of deaths of children under one year of age and between 54 and 80% of deaths of young children.

Given the good results of the work that the Foundation has been carrying out in Argentina, it decided to expand its lines of action, formally registering as a civil society organization in that country.

1] The Check Point is a space where Certified Technicians from the Foundation verify the correct installation of the Child Retention Systems (CRS) and advise families on their correct use.