RUN FOR SAFETY
SHOCKING Kanpur 6th and Lucknow 7th most deadly city in terms of accidents
LUCKNOW: Thrill for speed and throwing road safety norms to the winds have led to increasing number of accidents across the country. Around 1.38 lakh people were killed in five lakh road mishaps reported across the country in 2014. In UP alone, around 16,284 people died in at least 26,064 accidents last year.
The rising number of fatalities on roads has forced the state government to spread awareness over the issue. The transport department observed ‘World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims’ across the state on Sunday. In 2005, the United Nations Organisation had passed the resolution to observe ‘World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims’ on the third Sunday of November.
In Lucknow, the transport directorate organised a road safety awareness programme at Gandhi statue in Hazratganj and lit candles in remembrance of at least 546 people killed on roads of the state capital last year. Social worker Surabhi Ranjan was the chief guest for the occasion.
She said traffic norms were meant for self safety and people should follow them strictly. She said the state government was concerned over the issue and had already set up a road safety committee and road safety fund for the purpose. The government had also come up with a road safety policy of the state two years ago, added Ranjan.
Speaking on the occasion, district magistrate Raj Shekhar shared some shocking facts related to road accidents. He said UP’s two cities - Kanpur and Lucknow - were among the top 10 cities where most accident deaths were reported in the country.
He said Kanpur was sixth while Lucknow was the seventh most deadly city in terms of road mishaps.
The DM said nearly 377 people died in road accidents across the country every day and at least 20 people among such victims were reported to be below 20 years. He said it was necessary for parents to make their teenage kids aware about road safety.
K Ravindra Naik, commissioner (transport), said the risk of road accidents could be decreased by simply following safety norms and slowing down vehicles. And for this, awareness on road safety should be spread, he added.
Earlier in the morning, the transport directorate also organised a run for traffic safety awareness. Rohit Shekhar, advisor of traffic directorate, flagged off the run from 1090 Crossing.
Kunwar Arvind Singh, principal secretary (transport) was also present at the event. They made participants take a pledge to strictly follow road safety norms and drive safely.