Chizokho Vero
Kohima | April 30
Nagaland registered 1432 vehicular accidents in preceding two years (2016 and 2017), causing 956 injuries and 122 fatalities, a state transport official informed today.
As per record of the department, while there were 736 accidents causing 501 injuries and 59 deaths in 2016, the number of accidents declined slightly by 5.5% at 696 in 2017.
The number of injured also decreased by 9% at 455 injuries, but fatality rose by 6% with official records of 63 deaths in 2017. The data were revealed here today by Sr. District Transport Officer, Kohima Yaongsanglee Chang during a one-day workshop on road safety awareness as part of 29th National Road Safety Week 2018 under the theme “Road Safety-Life Safety.”
Further elucidating on the subject, he said that in India, every one minute a major vehicular accident occurs adding upto 5, 25, 600 major road accidents in a year.
“These accidents cause 17 deaths every hour which means 408 every day and 1,48, 920 deaths in a year,” Chang said.
Taking into account the magnitude of the number of accidents and prevetable fatalities, he stated, India’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highway has initiated the ‘Road Safety Week’ every year for the last 28 years to create awareness among the road users on the importance of road safety thereby saving lives.
Most cases sorted ‘amicably’
In Nagaland, most of accident cases like vehicle-vehicle collision are settled between the owners of the vehicles, Chang further noted.
One of the parties agrees to repair the damages or in some case replace with a brand new vehicle, he said.
In case of injury caused to someone, he added, the vehicle owner usually bears the cost of treatment etc and the case is settled ‘amicably.’
While agreeing that road rage can be avoided through the attitude of forgiveness, Chang however noted that when the erring vehicle’s driver are not brought to the book they do not learn the lesson for their negligence, careless and rash driving.
The entire purpose of having the Motor Vehicle Acts and Rules, Enforcing agencies, road safety awareness campaign are defeated, he opined.
Speaking at the workshop, EAC Kohima Changsang Soted batted for inclusion of road safety measures in the school syllabus to create awareness to the younger generation.
Urging the vehicle users to strictly obey the traffic rules, he said ignoring traffic rules lead to major accident.
Philip Yanthan, Dy. SP (Traffic) Kohima said with the increase in number of vehicles, the traffic jam is here to stay but its scale can be minimized if the vehicle users cultivate a good sense by obeying the traffic rules and adhering to the road safety measures in true spirit.
He also regretted that while pedestrian bridges have been constructed in some busy streets in Kohima for their safety, they usually prefer crossing the road defeating the very purpose of creating such facility. Yanthan also urged the passengers related vehicle users to avoid random stoppage while plying over busy road for picking and dropping purpose, which he said was another factor of causing traffic jam.
Referring to Smart City concept in the State capital, he said that being smart citizen and smart driving can also contribute significantly to the principle of smart city. MVI L. Engo Konyak also talked on road signs, penalties etc.
Meanwhile, the Kohima Traffic Police through a leaflet advised the vehicle users to avoid rash driving, avoid the use of mobile while driving, avoid haphazard overtaking, avoid overtaking from wrong side, avoid overloading, not to drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs, maintain lane discipline, not to let minor drive etc.
Road Safety Week concludes
‘For motivating the community to respect the rules of the road’
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 30
The week-long road safety awareness campaign, organised as part of the National Road Safety Week, in Dimapur concluded today. In its 29th year, the yearly awareness campaign is an initiative of the National Safety Council of India. Promoting road safety is at the core of the initiative often with the proactive community involvement.
Road Safety Week is also that time of the year when the Traffic police rather softens its stance on motorists violating traffic rules and focuses on spreading awareness on the significance of respecting traffic rules putting emphasis on safety.
Chances are motorists failing safety guidelines would only get a refined piece of advice instead of the regular stern warning together with ‘challan’ (receipt). Riders meeting the safety guidelines, two-wheeler riders in particular, receiving chocolates or candies as reward has become a common feature of the yearly weeklong campaign across the country.
The concluding day’s activities of National Road Safety Week in Dimapur featured the Traffic police handing away informative pamphlets and posters to motorists. Traffic personnel were stationed at two strategic locations – Zion Hospital & Research Centre and at the Nyamo Lotha Road footbridge.
The Traffic police informed that as many as 4000 keychains, 3000 pamphlets, posters and calendars featuring safety tips as well as candies were handed away to motorists during the day.
The ‘My Traffic Pledge’ pamphlets courtesy the Dimapur Traffic police contained self avowals for obeying traffic rules, putting safety first and against driving under the influence.
The Traffic police regard the campaign and the handing away of small gifts as motivating the community to respect the rules of the road, which would further cause of road safety.
