Governor Satya Pal Malik flagged off a new motorcycle squad of the Traffic Police, launched to ensure better compliance of road safety measures by the commuters.
K. Skandan and K.K.Sharma Advisors to Governor, BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary, Umang Narula,Financial Commissioner to Governor Asgar Hassan Samoon, Principal Secretary,Transport Department, Dr. S.P. Vaid,Transport Commissioner were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.
Appreciating the initiative of the Transport Department,Governor observed that the Departments associated with ensuring road safetyshould formulate good practices for ensuring safety of people on the roads andextended full support of the administration in all their endeavours in thisdirection.
Governor emphasised the vital importance of followingtraffic rules and road safety measures for reducing the increasing incidents ofroad accidents. He observed that strict action should be taken against theviolators of traffic rules and only trained persons should be allowed to plyvehicles on the roads. He noted that many accidents take place due to untraineddrivers and because of their carelessness many innocent lives are lost.
Governor stressed that officials entrusted with theresponsibility of controlling traffic should strictly monitor two wheelerdrivers who drive dangerously without any regards for the traffic rules andasked to make good quality helmets mandatory for its drivers.
Governor stressed the importance of educating peopleparticularly youth to generate awareness for following all road safetyregulations.
Advisor Skandan lauded the initiative and stressed the needfor bringing reforms in road safety management and informed that the governmenthas devised an effective Action Plan for ensuring safety on roads and soonpeople will see the results of government’s efforts in this direction.
Chief Secretary highlighted various steps taken by thegovernment in the domain of traffic management, like constitution of the Jammuand Kashmir Road Safety Fund, which is utilised for meeting expenditures onRoad Safety. He advised setting up of sufficient signages along the highwaysand launching awareness campaigns for reducing the incidence of serious roadaccidents especially amongst school students.
Samoon described various initiatives taken and measuresafoot for strengthening road traffic management in the State. He informed thatvery soon Diplomas in Disaster Management with stress on road safety will beintroduced and children associated with Road Safety Clubs will be givenopportunity to create awareness on roads regarding road safety.