ANU(ChandigarhCityNews)
Citizens Awareness Group with support from Consumer VOICE, Delhi is organizing Annual Road Safety Week on the theme 5 Days 5 Pledges- for Road Safety from February 1 to 7. As a part of the awareness campaign, workshops have been planned in Chandigarh schools and colleges.
This annual event represents a significant opportunity to call attention to the road safety situation. About 1.3 million people die each year on the world’s roads and between 20 and 50 million sustain non-fatal injuries. Road traffic crashes are a major cause of death among all age groups and the leading cause of death among those aged 15–29 years.
In a press conference at a hotel in Sector 22 here, Surinder Verma, Chairman, Citizens Awareness Group said “In the state of Haryana alone 11,234 road crashes, 10,531 injuries and 5,024 road fatalities took place in the year 2016 as per the report released by MoRTH. We are educating and spreading awareness on this crucial issue of Road Safety among the youths.” He informed awareness on road safety will be made through special sessions at DAV College, Sector 10, Government Model High School Manimajra, Government College of Commerce and Business Administration
Sector 50, Community Centre Sector 40, UIET Chandigarh, and Government Postgraduate College of Girls Sector 11 here. Parents, teachers and members of welfare association will join road safety workshops being organised at these venues.
Hemant Upadhyay, Advisor IT, Consumer Voice, Delhi said, “India had resolved and committed as a signatory to the Brasilia Declaration, to reduce the number of road accidents and fatalities by 50 per cent by 2020 but nothing has been done so far. Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill should be passed to bring road fatalities under control.”
Jagwinder Singh, from Patiala, 26, the armless paracyclist from Patran in Patiala district of Punjab, who is supporting the campaign has no arms since birth but is a national achiever in painting and cycling. “I had faced a lot of discouragement from the society when I was a child but with support of my parents, I managed to excel in drawing and painting using my feet, and through workshops with children I have given them lessons in road safety”, said Singh. He said, “Road safety is a critical issue and needs to be taken seriously as everyone has to come on the road. Even if I am following the rules and do not drink but what about others. So many people are losing their lives and we need to be vigilant and also follow rules and there should be heavy fine on those found breaking traffic rules and underage driving should be discouraged and parents should be held responsible. Children should be taught from the beginning and it will help a lot.”
As per the annual publication ‘Road Accidents in India-2016’ released by Ministry for Road Transport and Highways total 4,80,652 road accidents took place resulting into 1,50,785, road traffic deaths and 4,94,624 injuries in a year. Everyday 1,317 Accidents take place and 413 Persons killed on Indian Roads. “Through this road safety campaign, we are conveying/spreading the message of awareness towards importance of Road Safety among stakeholders. We have chosen the academic institutions to be a part of our campaign”, informed Verma.
He added, “According to the theme ‘5 days-5 pledge’ we will pledge to follow the safety features/rules for road safety. To connect people on this crucial issue we are highlighting 5 risk Factors namely, Seat Belt & Child Restraints, over speeding, helmetless driving, drunken driving, and use of air bags in case of a mishap. The programme highlights the importance, of risk factors and also about the provisions of Motor Vehicles (A) Bill. There will be presentation and video films about each topic at various Institutions.
