Mamata Banerjee outlines road safety measures

5 Dariya News

Kolkata 08-Jul-2016

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday expressed concern over rising number of road accidents and outlined some of the safety measures her government might introduce."Not a single day passes when people are not killed in road accidents. The situation is alarming and we have to come out of this," said Banerjee, launching 'Safe Drive Save Life', a road safety initiative."We will have to ensure strict adherence to traffic laws. Overloading of vehicles and rough driving will not be allowed," she said.Banerjee said a committee will be set up to monitor how the measure to install CCTV cameras along public roads is being implemented."Despite CCTV cameras (having been) installed, why have we not been able to curb rash driving? Don't think there will be any laxity. There will be a committee which will continuously monitor how this initiative is being implemented," she said. The government must look at the laws concerning vehicles from other states that ply in West Bengal, she said."We must have a mechanism to monitor them. 

We must have a law to mandate state registration of such vehicles." She said the government will consider creating a fund for providing helmets to the two-wheeler riders who cannot afford them and encourage inter-block competition on road safety."We will reward the blocks with least number of accidents and those with most accidents will be black-listed." Change in school syllabi and assistance of folk artists, local clubs and Durga Puja organisers will be taken to spread awareness on road safety, Banerjee said."We must popularise the initiative through all media including social networking platforms. The theme song of the initiative will be played at all road intersections, she said.