• Tuesday, 24 December 2024

Minister Spasovski: Costly Safe City system to contribute to raising awareness about road safety

Minister Spasovski: Costly Safe City system to contribute to raising awareness about road safety
Skopje, 3 February 2022 (MIA) – Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski said Thursday he expected the financial management framework for the new Safe City system to be completed soon. The idea, he said, is to establish a video surveillance system to control both public safety and road safety because the existing one is out of order. Spasovski said significant amount of financing is needed as the financial framework is being completed. “I’m asking you, the media, as well as the citizens for support for the project because it is extremely important. I hope it will strongly contribute to raising public awareness about road safety in North Macedonia,” he told reporters, adding that several models are being considered to provide the financing, including public-private partnership. Minister Spasovski called on the media to investigate developments in relation to the current Safe City system. “The former government until 2017 invested in wiretapping the citizens and the Safe City system was connected and had been used solely by the Security and Counterintelligence Administration,” he noted. Speaking to reporters, he said that the number of road accident fatalities has been significantly reduced. “There were 198 fatalities in 2013 and only 11 in 2021. It is due to the commitment since I’m at the helm of the Interior Ministry.” Road safety, Spasovski stressed, is a complex issue and the educational system has to also play its part because children from an early age have to start learning about road safety.