Global Youth Coalition Member Feature: Bruna Mesquita

1. Where are you connected right now? Tell us about the work you're doing.

Currently, I work as the Key Account Manager Bicycle for Michelin in Brazil. I took the challenge to develop this new business in our region and I'm very excited to dive into is this new universe because I strongly believe in the Bike as one of the potential solutions to sustainable mobility.

During the last very unusual year, we wanted to do something innovative, thinking about the future of Mobility and would have a social, diverse, and digital impact. We partnered with Junior Achievement (International ONG focus on education) to enjoy on JA STARTUP program. We joined 25 Michelin employee as a volunteer, 50 students from the age of 16 to 24 year old, and all from public schools in Rio de Janeiro and together we assembled 10 teams to work and think about how we could build a Startup that had an impact in our main subject: Sustainable Mobility. They created 10 Amazing Startups, with super Ideas!  (100% online).

We are right now designing new activities for this year, but still early to share! I hope to tell you soon!

2. How did you first get involved in road safety and how long have you been working in the road safety and sustainable mobility field? 

I lost five young friends in car crashes on four different fatal occasions. All the crashes involved drunk drivers and all victims were between 17 - 19 years old. I was sad and strongly impacted. I asked myself “until when?”. Since then, I take road safety as a personal topic.

I have been working for Michelin in Brazil for the past 9 years, I’m proud to work for a company that shares the same values. Safe mobility is embedded in Michelin’s DNA. It is deeply involved and remains true to its commitment to provide safe, clean, accessible, and efficient mobility systems. 

3. Can you tell us a little bit about the road safety and sustainable mobility situation in your area? 

According to the recent WHO Global Report, Brazil recorded almost 39.000 traffic deaths, sadly we appear in fifth place among the record-breaking countries in traffic deaths. 

More than 60% of the hospital beds are occupied by traffic accident victims (without the COVID effect). Also, we are in the worst classification regarding the speed limit in urban areas.

I think it's important to remember that in Brazil we have a “data problem” to account for traffic deaths because the entities are not integrated. The PRF (Federal Highway Police) and the SUS (Brazilian Unique Health System) – That means the reality maybe even worse than we imagine.

However, this does not mean that we are not advanced in favor of safe mobility, step-by-step.

We have important public policy achievements such as anti-drunk driving laws, Helmet law, ABS regulation, awareness campaigns. Sure, we’ll need more, aiming for the reduction of global road traffic deaths and injuries by 50 percent from 2020.

4. Why do you think it's important to include young people in local and global road safety efforts? 

As many of us already know, young people are the most affected when it comes to road crashes. Road safety efforts would not make sense without the youth perspective - it is never going to be an effective approach. We should prioritize young people to accelerate the road safety movement! Work with young people and for young people.

I love the YOUTH saying: “Nothing about us, without us!” Simple like that.

5. Why did you join the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety? 

In February 2020, I joined the 2nd World Youth Assembly for Road Safety and the 3rd Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Stockholm. I was really impressed with the articulate and organized way that the young leaders from YOURS managed the road safety topic to be exciting, inclusive, and efficient.

The active participation of young world leaders, the methodology of Youth Consultation to have a deep diagnostic from each region, the workshops with the presence of key stakeholders, the results and initiatives combined and directed to “call to action” as the Global Youth Statement for Road Safety - these all came together to challenge decision-makers to listen to us, the youth. It was an amazing and unforgettable experience!

That is my main goal to join the Global Youth Coalition, learn and grow up together this potential network with a common purpose: Road Safety and Safe mobility.

7. Any messages for people who have not yet joined the coalition? 

The population will increase, the numbers of cars will increase, we would like to reduce traffic deaths by half and that is a big challenge. We need to do differently what we did in the past years – We cannot fail!

We will need all efforts inter-collective to change the scenario, all stakeholders should be involved, Each of us should rethink “what is my role on that?”

I strongly believe in the only way – Think safe per design: Safety by design society.

If you are reading this message now, it is because you care! And you are not alone on this. There is a beautiful support network called Coalition with passionate youth people and all support you will need to advance. You can make a difference with your purpose, locally or globally, you can multiply with others of you, keep calm, join us and be happy!

We are here to claim our space!