Awareness holds key: Garg

January 11 to 17 is being celebrated as National Road Safety Week to create awareness among the commuters on road safety. In 2013, road accidents increased by 6.45 per cent as compared to the previous year. A total 40,384 road accidents were reported last year. Most of the accidents (3,335), took place under the Cyberabad Police limits. The Road Safety Week aims to drive home the importance of traffic awareness. While awareness is being raised with the help of volunteers, Amit Garg, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), pointed out that the services of school children would also be utilised for in this exercise as it is directly relevant to the general public

The country has reported one of the highest road accidents and many of them are fatal. “Every hour, approximately 15-20 people lose their lives in road accidents across India (1,40,000 in a year). Many citizens are left with lifelong disabilities. The devastating effect on a family due to the loss of a parent or a child is unbearable

The 25th National Road Safety Week was off to a grand start in the city on Saturday. This year, the safety week is focussing on areas like spreading traffic awareness and reducing the number of accidents. The theme for the week is “When you are on the road, always say Pehle Aap.”

Amit Garg, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), is running the show from his office. Speaking about the programmes, he said that the traffic police is closely co-ordinating with select NGOs to conduct various programmes at schools and colleges.

“We are having special counselling programmes to APSRTC bus drivers and general public as well,” he said.

He emphasised that all NGOs and voluntary service organisations should work together as a team to increase road safety awareness. “Engineering, education and enforcement are the three ‘E’s that will make a difference,” he added.

Stressing on the importance of road safety rules for vehicle users and pedestrians, Garg said that the country has reported one of the highest road accidents and many of them are fatal. “Every hour, approximately 15-20 people lose their lives in road accidents across India (1,40,000 in a year). Many citizens are left with lifelong disabilities. The devastating effect on a family due to the loss of a parent or a child is unbearable,” he said.

“The recent World Health Organisation (WHO) study throws up shocking figures about the tragic situation on Indian roads. Two wheeler deaths are unacceptably high at 32 per cent. In India, less than 50 per cent wear a helmet and less than 10 per cent of the passengers travelling in a car wear a seat belt. There is a need to focus on the traffic safety rules, to create awareness among the road users to prevent the alarming growth of accidents in the interest of the people and their dependents,” Garg said.

The Commissioner said that a total 40,384 road accidents were reported last year. Most of the accidents (3,335), took place under Cyberabad Police limits. “Four and two wheelers account for the highest number of accidents while the highest numbers of victims are those who ride on a two wheeler and the pedestrians,” he added. “Every individual should follow traffic rules first and also ensure that their family too follow traffic rules. There is a need for the society at large to take cognizance of the issue and to join hands, to make road safety a social movement,” said Garg. He emphasised the need for usage of pedestrian crossings at all busy junctions.

Garg appealed to the people to involve themselves and become life-saving volunteers. “There is no limit to what you can do. You can do as little or as much as you can. Every little thing helps. There are countless ways where you can help by volunteering for any of the activities viz road safety week activities, put up road safety week poster in public places such as offices, apartments, schools, railway stations, airport, bus stops and other public places,” Garg said.

“Road Safety Club will obtain official permission from Airport and Railways, volunteer to train school children, parents, teachers and bus drivers in schools to sensitise them towards road safety. They will also prepare posters and organise essay writing competitions for children. We urge school children to raise awareness about precautions and traffic rules on the roads to reduce the number of deaths. Children from every school would take turns to spread the awareness for an hour, which would be supervised by volunteers and teachers,” added Garg.