To build awareness about road safety and reduce road accidents, a week-long National Road Safety Week 2023 awareness drive themed ‘Swachatha Pakhwada’ was today inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anantnag, Dr Basharat Qayoom, here.
On the occasion, the DC flagged-off a Magic Rally on Road Safety Awareness from Dak Bunglow Khanabal to Mattan Chowk in presence of officers of District Administration, Traffic Police and representatives of driving institutions, auto unions, automobile dealers which after passing through different areas of the district culminated at the starting point.
Addressing the gathering, the DC said that Road Safety Week is a national event aimed at raising public awareness about traffic rules and ultimately to reduce casualties due to road accidents.
Millions lose their life and millions get injured in road accidents globally; mainly, due to lack of awareness about traffic rules or behaviour of flouting them. Therefore, to make people more aware of the traffic rules and to persuade them to follow rules while on road; the Road Safety Week is observed annually, he explained.
Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Anantnag, Dr Mohammad Zubair Lattoo said that the basic essence of celebrating Road Safety Week from 11th to 17th January is to propagate the cause of safer roads for all.
He further said that during the week, various activities are being organised throughout the district to create awareness among the general public and to give an opportunity to all stakeholders to contribute to the cause of road safety.
This includes various awareness campaigns related to causes of road accidents and measures to prevent them. Various activities with School/college students, drivers and all other road users have also been planned.
He added that free pollution checks for vehicles at select outlets will also be available during the week. Further, Essay writing and Poster making competition for school students by NGOs actively working in the field of road safety will also be held.
The department will also conduct special drives related to compliance of traffic rules and regulation, pedestrian safety, eye check-up camps for drivers and other road engineering related initiatives throughout the district.
Later, the MVD official along with Traffic department also conducted on road awareness campaign with regard to use of Safety Seat belt, overloading of Passengers and use of helmet by two wheelers at Bijbehara, Dooru, Kokernag and Khanabal Chowk for creating mass awareness.