Minister Emphasizes Road Safety as a Social Responsibility
In Wanaparthy District, State Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar highlighted the importance of following traffic rules and treating road safety as a shared social responsibility to prevent accidents. His remarks came during a video conference held on Saturday with district collectors, SPs, and officials from various departments.
The Minister stated that the Central Government observes Road Safety Week annually, but this year, it is being extended to Road Safety Month to underline its significance. He instructed officials to conduct awareness programs on road safety and traffic regulations across districts, mandals, and villages throughout the state. Additionally, he suggested setting up traffic tracks in schools and colleges to educate students about traffic rules and safety measures.
Call for Awareness and Preventive Steps
R&B Special Chief Secretary Vikas Raj, who participated in the meeting, pointed out that many road accidents occur due to a lack of knowledge about traffic rules and reckless driving. To address this, he proposed organizing awareness programs, rallies, and other initiatives to educate the public and students. He also stressed the need for creating systems to quickly transport accident victims to nearby hospitals and to spread awareness about emergency services like calling 108.
Vikas Raj further urged schools and colleges to actively participate in these awareness campaigns. He emphasized collaboration between local communities and officials to reduce accidents and ensure timely medical assistance for victims.
District-Level Initiatives
District Collector Adarsh Surabhi announced plans to organize road safety festivals in the district. He shared that efforts are being made to identify accident-prone areas, known as “black spots,” where warning signboards will be installed. Awareness programs will also be conducted in schools to educate students on safe driving practices.
The Collector instructed police and transport departments to impose penalties on drivers violating traffic rules. He mentioned that frequent road safety committee meetings and regular reviews would be conducted to monitor progress. Specific violations like overloading vehicles, driving on the wrong side, not wearing helmets, and rash driving would be strictly penalized.
Officials' Participation
The meeting saw active participation from various officials, including Additional Collector Local Bodies Sanchit Gangwar, DSP Venkateswara Rao, RDO Subramaniam, RT O Manasa, Panchayat Raj EE Mallaiah, Roads and Buildings DE Seetharamanjaneyulu, and others. Their collective efforts aim to ensure public safety and reduce road accidents through better planning and enforcement.
The emphasis on collaboration, education, and enforcement underscores the government’s commitment to making roads safer for everyone.
