TUR – FIBA, United Nations and Turkish Police call for respect of rules of the road

ISTANBUL (2010 FIBA World Championship) – FIBA, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Turkish National Police (TNP) on Wednesday displayed a billboard signed by all the players taking part in the 2010 FIBA World Championship in support of a joint road safety campaign launched by FIBA and the UNECE which carries the motto “We play and drive by the rules”.
 
During a press conference at the Sinan Erdem Dome before the first quarter-final between Serbia against Spain, outgoing FIBA President Bob Elphinston was joined by UNECE Deputy Secretary Andrey Vasilyev and TNP Deputy General Director Osman Karakus in calling for road users to abide by the five rules set out in the campaign so that the number of road accidents around the globe can be drastically reduced.
 
“Mr Vasilyev addressed our FIBA World Congress on Monday to carry the message of road safety to all our federations,” said Elphinston. “The support we have received has been fantastic.
 
“It is great to have players like world champion and Spain point guard Jose Calderon, Turkey star Kerem Tunceri and legend Harun Erdenay involved in this campaign,” he added, making reference to video clips that have been shown throughout the championship in all the venues as well as on the television channels broadcasting the games.
 
“FIBA has more than 450 million players around the world, 80 million of which are licensed. The majority of these players play in domestic leagues and spend a lot of time on the roads, in cars and buses. Two of our best known players, Drazen Petrovic of Croatia and Fernando Martin of Spain, lost their lives on the road.”
 
Elphinston stressed the fact that FIBA, as an international organisation, has a duty to help raise awareness and find ways to solve the problem.
 
“FIBA is not just about basketball. Yes, basketball is our core activity but we also have a social responsibility. Our great athletes are role models. We have a responsibility to educate the youth. It is a fantastic saying to say that we play and drive by the rules.”
 
Mr Vasilyev provided the figures to signify the seriousness of the problem.
 
“More than 1.3 million people die on the roads every year. Road accidents are the biggest cause of death for children and young people between the ages of five and 29,” he pointed out.
 
“We strongly feel we can change that. These are not accidents. They are events that can be avoided by taking responsibility and following rules. We firmly believe that respecting the rules is as important on the road as it is on the court,” he offered.
“Safety is a business we have been involved in for 60 years. From safety of vehicles, to safety of roads and international standards of safety, we are involved everywhere.
 
“We cherish our partnership with FIBA. Basketball players are role models so the fact that all players at this tournament have signed this, means a lot. Hopefully children will take example from this.”
 
Mr Karakus called for the campaign to be endorsed worldwide and for nations as well as for international bodies – governmental or not – to come together on this matter.
 
“If everybody pays attention to our campaign and if we make it more common throughout the world the problem that is road crashes can be resolved,” he argued.
 
“Road safety is very important. We should come together with the UN and all nations and non-governmental associations to solve this problem.”
 
He added that roads throughout Turkey would be particularly busy this weekend as Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, comes to an end.
 
“There will be a traffic rush today and for the next few days as Ramadan comes to an end. So we are working very hard to try and avoid traffic accidents. I would like to thank all our staff who are working during this holy holiday.”
 
The FIBA/UNECE road safety campaign carries the motto “We play and drive by the rules” and has been developed to inform people around the world – especially the young people who are basketball fans or play basketball themselves – and to encourage respect for the rules, on the road as well as on the court.
 
 
The five main road rules that make up the campaign are:
‘We do not speed’
‘We always wear seat belts’
‘We never speak on the phone while driving’
‘We do not drink and drive’
‘We always wear a helmet when driving two-wheelers’
 
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