A road safety club for children

Thursday, 3 June, 2010


The Delhi Traffic Police have undertaken the task to mould children as responsible road users and drivers. After the summer vacations, school-going children in Delhi will be offered memberships to a unique 'Road Safety Club'.

The members will be involved in various road safety activities. The idea behind the club is to inculcate a sense of road safety among tomorrow's road users.

Seventeen schools have enrolled in the club till date.

"Road accidents are one of the largest killers in India with 1.25 lakh deaths reported per year — the highest in the world. To bring down rate of accidents, road safety clubs should be formed in each state," said a senior official of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Special CP (Traffic) Ajay Chadha told Hindustan Times, "We had mooted the concept   during the first week of January, which was observed as road safety week.

Organisations like Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Automobile Association of Upper India (AAUI) and automobile giants like JK Tyres and Hero Honda have agreed to partner with us."

Lauding the initiative of the Delhi Traffic police, a senior officer of the Indian Chapter of International Road Federation (IRF) said, "We are trying to install simulators, imported from Europe, in schools across the country so that students can get proper training."

A spokesperson from SIAM said, "We will impart training to nominated school teachers, school bus drivers and guardians of students."

Sanjay Jain, transport in-charge, Srijan School, Model Town said, "The Road Safety Club is a unique move and will help curb road fatalities."

Original news source http://www.hindustantimes.com/A-road-safety-club-for-children/Article1-552389.aspx