Major fatal road accidents continue to occur in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and Udhampur districts. While the accidents take place in other parts of Jammu and Kashmir also, but the frequent mishaps in Chenab Valley districts and Udhampur take a heavy toll.
In the latest accident at Khanpura area in Doda district six persons including two minor girls lost their lives, while four others were injured. Reports said the accident occurred when a van skidded off the road and fell into a gorge.
There is a need to prevent such accidents and save lives. For that, those driving have to strictly follow road safety rules, and concerned authorities ensure that the rules are strictly followed. The condition of dilapidated roads too has to be made better particularly in accident prone stretches.
Reports indicate that most accidents occur due to negligence of drivers like over-speeding, wrongly over- taking other vehicles or wrong-side driving. Those driving on these roads must understand that safe driving is important for their own safety as also for the safety of others traveling with them in the vehicles, besides that of the pedestrians.
Those driving on accident prone roads have to particularly take extra-care. A small error or a slight violation of rules causes deaths and injuries in these accidents. So many families bear the brunt due to these accidents. And the number of road accidents is on the rise and so are the deaths and injuries in these mishaps.
The concerned authorities too must gear up. Mere routine checking and clicking the pictures of vehicles wrongly parked, and fining the drivers will not do. Steps have to be taken on a large scale. There is an immediate need to create awareness among the people against the growing road accidents.
The people should be encouraged to follow the road safety rules and discouraged from violating the rules. Other related departments must also be involved for such awareness campaigns. Special drives have to be also launched to check the violation of traffic rules.
The concerned department must have enough man power to deal with increasing challenges on the roads. Preventing road accidents is a collective responsibility of those driving the vehicles, and the concerned department. Remember, strictly adhering to safe driving rules is a key to prevent accidents.