Holistic Approach Needed For Road Safety: RTO Kashmir

SOPORE: Regional Transport Officer Kashmir Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari said that road safety is not a singular challenge but requires a collective and holistic approach involving various stakeholders.

Speaking to the news agency, during his visit to Sopore, he said that people should recognize the gravity of their responsibilities on the road.

“Until and unless individuals conscientiously adhere to preventive measures, road accidents will persist,” Bukhari said. "Everyone has to play a crucial role in ensuring road safety through responsible behavior and compliance with traffic rules. Non-compliance with traffic norms leads to accidents.”

He said that a holistic and collective approach is imperative for tackling road safety challenges effectively. “We must involve all stakeholders, including politicians, educational institutions, journalists and the community at large to have significant results — reduce traffic accidents,” he added.

“Journalists have a crucial role in promoting road safety. Through creative and emotional storytelling you can spread awareness and encourage everyone to follow road rules,” he added.

He said that they have made significant strides in digitizing services since September but some procedures still require physical presence. “Our commitment to a faceless approach is reflected in the fact that 93% of our services, such as permit issuance and vehicle transfers can be availed online,” said the RTO.

Bukhari also said that the recent accident in Boniyar resulting in the loss of 10 lives is tragic, insisting people should prioritize their safety over convenience.

“We encourage individuals, especially village Panchs and sarpanchs to report any violations or unsafe practices to the police or our department to avoid Boniyar like accident,” he said, adding that people need to adopt a culture of voluntary compliance with traffic rules for creating a safer road environment for everyone—(KNO)