Jammu: An International Cartoon Exhibition on Road Safety was held at Kala Kendra, Jammu. According to organizers, data has shown that disobedience of traffic rules and discipline have been on rise across the J&K and directly resulted into traffic fatalities. The J&K has witnessed high level of road rage and accident cases around 478 in the period of 2019-20. Road accident continues to be a leading cause of death. Ironically most of them are youth in the age group 16-29. “It’s a huge trauma, loss and economic hardship to the family, society and nation that face as an unwanted consequences caused to them,”. So, with an objective to emphasize on the importance of necessary road safety behaviour and measures while driving, the Regional Office ICCR Jammu has decided to organize safe drive awareness campaign through International Cartoon Exhibition on Road Safety with 250 cartoon from 39 countries under aegis of eminent International Cartoonist Chander Shekar popularly locally known as Bunty cartoonist) during the occasion of observance of National Road Safety Month in India with a theme of safe yourself and save your family. “We all use road as traveller, motorist, pedestrians, cyclist, motor cyclists, cart riders etc,” the organizers said, adding, “We must understand importance of road safety.”
While delivering a speech on the event, N.K. Shil, Regional Passport Officer and Regional Director ICCR, MEA, Govt of India, J&K and Ladakh said that the initiative will go a long way in informing the people to adhere much required road safety norms. “With the help of this programme, it also intends to urge the citizen to follow road safety rules and regulation and appeal the car and auto drivers to drive safely following simple driving etiquettes and traffic rules more sincerely.” In future, ICCR will distribute informative handout on essential route’s norms by emphasizing the danger and risk involved in traffic safety violations and the preventive measures to avoid the same. “Ours is a mixed and multimodal traffic system and at times very chaotic. More so, road building engineering and road safety education and enforcement of traffic law and inter deparlmental coordination etc are known to be lacking,” the organizers said, adding, “So, maintaining smooth traffic is a huge challenge for traffic police. In order to pass on the message to the other fellow drivers, we would like to request the car owners to put a bumper sticker with a traffic safety message “I pledge to drive safely” clearly displayed behind their respective vehicles.”
This Initiative by ICCR will not only help in creating awareness on this vital issue but also facilitate Jammu and Kashmir to improve lips and bounds by commuting safely. “We in the ICR believe in valuing human life not only through this programme but ensuring safety habits among the people. Society can progress only when we commute on the road safe”.
. While delivering lecture on the occasion, the Chief Guest of the occasion Namgyal ADGP (Traffic) JRK Stressed on the need of observing traffic rules strictly.
