'Teach traffic rules to students once in a week'

Speaking after inaugurating 22nd Road Safety Week organised jointly by the district administration, transport department and Police department here at Carmel School hall on Tuesday, he said the traffic rules and traffic sense should be taught to the children.

“Senior citizens can voluntarily become traffic wardens to help the school children to cross the road after the class hours. The punishment for the traffic violators should be strict, especially in terms of on the spot fine,” he added.

He said the competition among buses leads to unhealthy practice and cause accidents. The bus owners association should start combined booking agency to avoid unhealthy competitions.

If everyone takes a pledge that they will follow traffic rules and drive carefully, then the accidents in Mangalore can come down drastically, he added.

Superintendent of Police Dr A S Rao said road safety is a matter of culture and character. Without the culture and character, the enforcement of any rules will not bring in a change.

City Bus Owners Association Secretary Azeez Parthipady said that all the drivers should introspect on the way they drive.

In his presidential address, City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said that there is a need to create an awareness on road safety.

The road safety should become a continuous programme. Only safety measures can help in preventing the road accidents.

In his introductory remarks, Senior Inspector Dr Keshav Dharani said that India tops the world in number of deaths due to road accidents. In 2010, about 1,26,860 persons were killed in road mishaps in India. About 38 lakh persons have been killed in road accidents in the last 64 years.

In Dakshina Kannada district, 1,796 accidents occurred in 2010. Of which, 2,444 persons have suffered serious injuries and 277 have been killed.

The theme of  22nd Road Safety Week was ‘road safety is a mission, not intermission.’

‘96 deaths on NH-48 in 2010’

Superintendent of Police Dr A S Rao said that as part of Road Safety week, the district police will conduct a survey on NH 48  on which 96 deaths were reported in 2010. The survey will identify the accident zones, make a study on these zones and come out with preventive measures to avoid mishaps on NH-48. The preventive measures will be implemented effectively.