Pulwama, Jan 11: Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Baseer-Ul-Haq Choudhary while flagging off an awareness rally to observe the weeklong Road Safety Week under “Swachhata Pakhwada” 2023 called for educating people about road safety measures.
Road Safety Week is being organized under the aegis of “Swachhata Pakhwada” a concept inspired by the Prime Minister’s vision to engage all departments in Swachhata-related activities, thereby making Swachhata everyone’s business.
The DC said the aim of Road Safety Week is to create awareness among the general public to improve the safety on road, to educate people about road safety measures, and to give an opportunity to all stakeholders to contribute to the cause of road safety.
“Road mishaps could be prevented only by following traffic rules,” the DC said while appealing to drivers to use helmets and seatbelts without fail. “Our motto shouldn’t be to reduce the deaths but to ensure that no accident happens,” he added.
Choudhary called for “imbibing road safety as a way of life and not confining it to a mere slogan”. He appealed to the people to follow rules to avoid traffic mess in the town. “The traffic officials would act as messengers and disseminate the information about the ethics of driving and MVD should act at the grassroots level,” he said.
The DC Pulwama said the focus shall also be on educating the passenger vehicle drivers and refreshing their driving skills and making them aware of the latest road safety practices and the ways to save lives in case of emergency by providing first aid. He called upon the Motor Vehicle Department to deal strictly with the violators.
Assistant Regional Transport Officer Pulwama Moazam Ali, Inspector MVD, media persons and other traffic officers were present on the occasion. The rally was taken out from the bus stand Drussu and passed through the main roads of the district.
ARTO Pulwama called for cooperation from transporters and civil society members to ensure better transport facilities in the district. He stressed that drivers not to use cell phones while driving to avoid accidents.
“Motorists must avoid overspeeding, rash and negligent driving so that precious lives can be saved,” he said, adding that major reasons for accidents are carelessness, driving by minors and drunk/drugged people.
