7 months on, GO awaited on Road Safety Clubs

The State Transport Authority took this initiative in the wake of the increasing number of road accidents across the state.

The authorities claim that they are yet to get a Government Order(GO) instructing them to establish said clubs in government and government-aided schools.

The students studying between class 6 and 9 are eligible to take part in the club, which will be available as an elective in the schools.

An official said, “It was conceived akin to clubs like National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme existing in the educational institutions. The interested students who take part in the club’s activities will receive a certificate towards the end of the academic year.”

The members of the club will be oriented on the various aspects of road safety including riding vehicle safely, providing first-aid treatment during golden hours and observing traffic rules, among others.

The students will be taught the methodology to conduct road safety audits for building a socially conscious society.

In 2017, the State had registered 65,562 accidents that resulted in the death of 90,728 persons in various road mishaps.

In 2016, the State registered 71,431 accidents–the highest of all the years in which 99,381 persons were killed.

The State undertook various measures to arrest the increasing trend of road accidents including stringent measures like cancellation of driving licenses for people riding two-wheelers without helmets and those who flouted traffic rules.

A top official attached to the Transport Department said, “We are expecting to receive the GO anytime soon. Upon receiving this, the authorities will immediately hold a school-level meeting across the State.”

“The clubs would be made mandatory for all the schools with an aim to increase awareness about road safety. It must be noted that numerous schools have their own road safetyclubs,” he added.