SAFE path for safer roads
BHUBANESWAR:Road accidents kill more people than diseases and three per cent of the country’s GDP is lost in this regard every year. It is high time every individual became responsible for making roads safer, opined experts at a convention here on Thursday.
In fact, India has seen more road accidents per year than any other nation since 2006. While over five lakh road accidents occurred in the country in 2015, 1.47 lakh people lost their lives. In Odisha, over 4,217 people were killed in 10,356 separate accidents in 2015.
The annual convention titled ‘Vision towards Safer Roads: Technology, Education and Enforcement’ was organised by Society for Automotive Fitness and Environment (SAFE) in association with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and State Transport Department.
Inaugurating the event, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport Department Sanjay Rastogi said the Government alone cannot enforce road safety measures without the help of drivers, pedestrians and the auto industry.
‘’Every individual is responsible for making roads safer. We all have to come together and educate people to reduce fatalities on our roads. With all stakeholders, SAFE will come out with ideas on safer roads which can be implemented,’’ he said. The SAFE convention was organised to share the best practices adopted by the Government and private organisations in areas of vehicular safety, technology innovations and standards for enhancing road safety. SAFE also launched road safety compendium of Indian automobile industry during the convention. President of SAFE N Saravanan said road safety is a shared responsibility. ‘’We as manufacturers are committed to initiate steps to equip vehicles with safety technologies. We are confident that with support of the Government and other stakeholders, our efforts to make roads safer and develop sustainable road transport system will be achievable,’’ he said. On the occasion, two different technical sessions were organised. Highlighting the projects implemented by the State Government, Assistant Director of Transport Department Tapan Mishra said they have been consistently creating road safety committees and driver training clubs.
Among others, renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik and vice-president of SAFE Naveen Soni also spoke. Advisor of Maruti Suzuki-India Mahesh Rajoria gave a presentation on quality of driving training.