Date:07/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/07/stories/2009010760020400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Road Safety Patrol cadets urged to educate vehicle-users on traffic rules

Special Correspondent

“It is a rare sight to see policemen regulating traffic in developed countries”

— Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

glittering vow: Road Safety patrol volunteers taking a pledge at the silver jubilee celebration of Tamil Nadu Police Traffic Wardens Organisation in Chennai on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: Commissioner of Police K. Radhakrishnan has appealed to Road Safety Patrol cadets to do their best in educating vehicle-users on traffic rules and minimising the occurrence of road accidents.

Speaking at a function organised by the Traffic Wardens Organisation of the Tamil Nadu police to mark the silver jubilee celebrations of Road Safety Patrol here on Tuesday, he expressed concern that one lakh people died in road accidents in the country every year. “In the city alone, about 600 deaths occurred in fatal road accidents. We have to create awareness of road safety aspects. Every third or fourth accident is fatal.”

Pointing out that it was a rare sight to see policemen regulating traffic in developed countries, Mr. Radhakrishnan said traffic constables were educating vehicle-users on the imperative not to cross the Stop Line at every junction here. “Voluntary compliance with rules is vital to minimise accidents on the road. Every individual has a responsibility to adhere to safety norms.”

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Sunil Kumar appealed to students to ensure that their parents wore helmets or seatbelts while driving. “You must prevail upon your elders not to use mobile phone while driving,” he said.

Releasing a handbook on Road Safety Patrol, Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Bank M. S. Sundara Rajan said that in a majority of road accidents, ignorance or negligence was often the reason. Quoting a reference material, he said 11.7 lakh people died in road accidents across the world, out of which 70 per cent were in developing countries.

Chief Traffic Warden Harish L Metha spoke.

A large number of students took part in the function and received a copy of the handbook.