Road Safety Month Kicks Off with Collaborative Efforts in Jammu: A Call for Awareness and Structural Reforms

||Black and White Digital News ||

||January 09,2025 ||

Jammu: The Motor Vehicle Department (MVD), in collaboration with the All Jammu and Kashmir Transport Welfare Association (AJKTWA), inaugurated Road Safety Month through a function at the Mini Bus Operators Union Office, Maheshpura Chowk. The event brought together key stakeholders to emphasize the need for greater responsibility among drivers and conductors in ensuring road safety.

Transport Commissioner Shri Vishesh Paul Mahajan, who presided over the event, highlighted the critical role of drivers and conductors in safeguarding the lives of passengers. In his inaugural address, Mahajan stressed that adherence to traffic rules and committed service could significantly reduce road accidents and save lives.

“Lives lost in road accidents deeply impact families and society at large. Drivers carry the onus of safety and must be well-versed with traffic norms. Transporters should also work towards structural changes that equip drivers and conductors to mitigate accidents,” Mahajan noted.

He was joined by Pankaj Bhagotra, Regional Transport Officer (RTO), and Rehana Tabassum, Assistant RTO, along with other members of the MVD team, marking a collective effort toward road safety reform.

Transporters Advocate for Safety and Awareness: Karan Singh Wazir, Chairman of AJKTWA, addressed the gathering, underscoring the importance of Road Safety Month as a national initiative to curb accidents by promoting public awareness of traffic rules. Drawing attention to the global scale of road accidents, Wazir noted that a lack of awareness and disregard for traffic rules remain key contributors to such tragedies.

“Our association is committed not only to road safety initiatives but also to improving the health and well-being of drivers and conductors. Moreover, we aim to raise awareness about issues like drug abuse, which is eroding the foundation of our younger generation,” Wazir emphasized.

Broader Implications and Participation:

The function also witnessed participation from prominent members of the transport community, including Mohinder Singh, Vijay Singh Chib, Bharat Bhushan Sharma, and others, who pledged their support to the initiatives. Discussions extended beyond road safety to include societal challenges such as drug abuse, which has become a pervasive issue among youth.

The event showcased a unified message: road safety is not merely a responsibility of the authorities but a collective obligation. Through regular training, increased awareness, and structural improvements, stakeholders hope to reduce road accidents and foster a culture of safety and well-being among transport professionals and the public.

As Road Safety Month unfolds, the MVD and AJKTWA’s collaborative efforts aim to bring about a tangible change in attitudes and practices on the roads, ensuring safer travel for all.

This analysis underscores the multifaceted approach adopted during the event, focusing on awareness, structural reform, and societal impact.