Global Youth Coalition Member Feature: Darlene Oabel

1. Where are you connected right now? Tell us about the work you're doing.
I currently work at the Office of the Assistant Regional Director at the Land Transportation Office- a government agency under the Department of Transportation Office, which is tasked to rationalize the land transportation sector and services and effectively implement the various land transportation laws, rules and regulations. Designated in various committees such as Deputation and Evaluation Committee, Assessment and Compliance Monitoring Team for Medical Clinic Accreditation, Regional Accreditation Committee for Driving Schools and others, our Office plays a vital role in the promotion of road safety and other similar advocacies. The committees and other work were given to me are essential to ensure that LTO in our region is doing its mission to promote safety and comfort in land travel.

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?
Way back in 2016, I got involved in road safety in a campaign where I worked with various organizations such as the Technical Working Group in Traffic Management. I worked as one of the a secretariat in road safety seminars where I learned the importance of advocacy in road safety. I still want to be part of the worldwide movement to ensure safer roads for everyone. Even though I am not in the top position to make decisions and initiate programs, activities and projects relative thereto, I still hope to save more lives even in simple ways.

3. Can you tell us a little bit about the road safety and sustainable mobility situation in your area?
The Philippines is one of the countries suffering from road crashes. From motorcycles to four-wheel motor vehicles, lots of people, property, and resources are wasted because of road crashes. For that reason, both government and non-government organizations are helping one another to promote road safety awareness in various ways. Unfortunately, a lot still needs to be done in order to make people more aware of the importance of road safety.

4. Why do you think it's important to include young people in local and global road safety efforts?
Youth make up our future leaders. However, They are not fully educated on how to use their skills and abilities to address issues such as road safety. I believe that every young person should be taught about road safety early on so that they will grow to strive for SAFER ROADS that will lead to a more PROGRESSIVE COUNTRY. They will learn that local and global road safety efforts is not just a vision but a doable and achievable initiative. They will understand how beneficial it is not just for the youth but for all generations. For these reasons, it is a must to include the younger generation in this worldwide road safety movement.

5. Why did you join the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety?
Joining the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety is a reminder that I CAN BE PART OF THE WORLD'S ROAD SAFETY SOLUTION. It motivates me to do my job well. It keeps on inspiring me to strive so that one day, i will be a living sample that it is not too late to save our roads from crashes- that we are part of the solutions to the problems of the past to the present.

6. What are your comments on the Coalition? Its activities? Its opportunities?
The Youth Coalition is working to promote safety in the road sector. It motivates me to do the same. I admire the members of the Coalition, the sharing of their practices, and the efforts they exert to encourage others to be part of solutions to mitigate road crashes.

7. Any messages for people who have not yet joined the coalition?
it might be typical for you to hear road crash incidents as part of everyday news but let us not normalize this. You and I - We can all be part of the solution to mitigate road crashes. You don't need to be a government official or to be an influencer to do this. Join the GLOBAL YOUTH COALITION FOR ROAD SAFETY and introduce ROAD SAFETY AWARENESS to your family then to your friends, until such time that Road Safety becomes a word of mouth for everyone.