In stressing seat belt and helmet usage, as well as safe driving habits, Michelle Yeoh said: “It’s important to protect yourself on the road.   In a car, wear your safety belt.  On a motorcycle, wear your helmet.  These are simple things that don’t cost extra.  And never look at your phone or make calls, because you need to focus on the road.”

She also spoke of the need for road users to be responsible, “Government tells you the things you must do- respect speed limits, etc.  But we must also be mindful of our own behaviour, as drivers and as pedestrians.   We cannot just point a finger at others. “

Michelle Yeoh also mentioned Jean Todt’s appointement as the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety,  “I am very proud that Jean Todt has been made the UNSG’s Special Envoy for Road Safety.  We are now also able to work at a higher level, with parliaments and government.  We don’t present them with problems, but with solutions.   The good news is that there are already solutions- there are ‘vaccines’.  We look at road accidents as a disease.  If we don’t do something, the problem will worsen. “

She conclude her talk to the students by saying, “We understand that roads are a necessity, a part of life.  But travelling by road can be done safely.  That is all that we are asking for. “