Government's helmet giveaway to begin this Saturday
The program includes road safety and emergency response training
The government has made it mandatory from March 10th onwards for motorcyclists using the Sinamalé Bridge to wear a helmet
The government will on Saturday begin its road safety awareness program and helmet giveaway, the Maldives Transport Authority has said.
The authority said in a statement this week that those participating in the program will receive a two-hour road training session, and will be among the first two to receive free helmets, a highly publicized giveaway following its use being mandatory on highways in the country.
Saturday’s program also includes a two-hour training session in first-aid and emergency response, the Transport Authority said in an earlier press conference.
The program aims to prepare people using roads with a speed limit of 30 and above, and so is being carried out in Laamu atoll, as well as Malé and Addu cities; registration for the program began on 20th February and over 500 people have reportedly registered.
The Transport Ministry is giving out 2,500 helmets for the Greater Malé Area, with an additional 500 for children; 2,000 helmets are to be given out Laamu and Addu atolls.
The government has procured a total of 1,500 helmets for the program, while UNICEF has gifted 3,500.
