PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
The Uttarakhand governor lieutenant general (retd) Gurmit Singh said that aspects of road safety should be taught to children at the pre-nursery level and continued into the higher classes. He was speaking as the chief guest at a road safety awareness seminar organised at Raj Bhawan on Wednesday.
Addressing the gathering, the governor said that road safety is not limited to traffic rules alone, but is deeply connected with public awareness, collective responsibility and responsible behaviour of the citizens. He appealed to all departments, educational institutions, media and social organisations to turn road safety into a mass movement to instill a sense of discipline and responsibility among the general public.
Addressing school children in particular, the governor encouraged them to become brand ambassadors of road safety, to spread awareness within their families and the society, and to set an example by following the rules themselves.
He emphasised that in a mountain State like Uttarakhand, road safety challenges are even more complex. The geographical terrain, narrow and winding roads, steep slopes and changing weather conditions all increase the risk of road accidents. In such conditions, alertness, restraint and adherence to rules while driving are essential for saving lives.
The governor also called for strict action against violators and urged everyone to follow traffic rules. He stressed that road safety is not solely the government’s or administration’s responsibility, but a moral duty of every citizen.
Director of Central Road Transport Institute Devendra Singh and the institute’s technical expert Prashant Kakade shared key insights on road safety with the audience. They emphasised that road safety should not just be about regulations, but should become a part of every individual’s lifestyle. They highlighted that negligence and disregard for rules are major causes of road accidents in India. Citing Uttarakhand road accidents statistics, Kakade pointed out that most accidents took place on straight roads in clear sunny weather, contrary to the perception that winding and steep roads in rough weather witness more accidents.
The event convener Dr BKS Sanjay stated that the simplest way to reduce accidents is for everyone to learn and follow traffic rules. He appealed to the government to take effective steps to educate people about these rules and ensure their implementation. Orthopedic surgeon Dr Gaurav Sanjay highlighted the personal, familial, social and economic impacts of road accidents. He urged the youths to always wear helmets while riding two-wheelers and use seat belts while driving four-wheelers.
