Allianz Lanka rolled out the next phase of its life saving initiative at five railway stations, viz. Ahangama, Alawwa, Kaburugamuwa, Polgahawela and Weligama, recently.
The Insurer has been working on alerting commuters and road users about unprotected railway crossings in partnership with the National Council for Road Safety (NCRS) since November 2017.
The NRCS notes that the warning signs and safety messaging erected in and around railway stations through this project continue to help avert accidents and save lives. This initiative has been one of the key factors behind the over 50% year-on-year reduction in deaths at unprotected railway crossings, down from 544 in 2017 to 212 in 2018.
“Having partnered with Allianz Lanka, a company that shares our commitment to road safety, we have been working together on raising awareness on and promoting safety at unmanned railway crossings,” Chairman, National Council for Road Safety, Dr. Sisira Kodagoda.
Allianz Lanka and NCRS have covered 19 railway stations around the island including Aluthgama, Anuradhapura, Hingurakgoda, Kalutara South, Kandy, Matara, Moratuwa, Muttetugala, Narahenpita, Navinna, Pannipitiya, Payagala South, Ragama, and Wellawa under this project.
Managing Director, Allianz Insurance Lanka Limited and Allianz Life Insurance Lanka Limited, Surekha Alles said, “We believe that these tragedies can be avoided if people are made aware of the dangers and are given information on how best they can protect themselves. NCRS’s data on how the warning signs erected under our program have helped reduce the number of accidents gives us further impetus to scale this project up, taking it to more railway stations around the island.”