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Melissa Fernandes quizzed a few schoolchildren on traffic safety and was delighted to learn that the next generation is asking some very relevant questions 

“Do you use zebra crossings?”
“Are you aware of traffic rules?”
“Why should people wear seatbelts while driving and helmets while riding motorbikes?”
“Do people break basic traffic rules due to the lack of awareness or freedom of choice?”

These are just a few questions that were thrown up as we spoke to children about road safety. Dilshad Shah from Holy Family School, Mumbai says, “I have seen many people taking the law into their hands by breaking traffic rules. Even pedestrians don’t use zebra crossings, but they can’t be blamed as vehicles are lined up all over zebra crossings, failing to stop before the crossings start. So why are drivers not taken through a class in road safety before they are handed over their licenses?”

Although many rules are broken, the Traffic Police are making sincere efforts to enforce discipline and make sure that rules are followed. The Road Safety Awareness Week, observed across India under the guidance of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, is an initiative to promote road rules and create awareness about traffic safety among people. Road Safety Awareness Week is observed in the first week of January every year. This year it is being held for 15 days and will end on January 15. The chief objective of the awareness drive is to prevent accidents and make road safety a priority. The theme of the programme is thus ‘Road Safety is a mission, not intermission’.

According to the US National Safety Council report, China and India report the most number of road deaths. Hence, the subject of road safety is highly significant. Road safety helps to secure the lives of many. Shreya Vajpei, a class 11 student in Jaipur says, “Rules are made to ensure discipline and hence we should be responsible citizens and follow these rules. After living in Jaipur for the past three years, I have noticed a drastic change in the traffic patterns as the number of four-wheelers have increased. Roads used to be empty, but now the density and the frequency of traffic jams have increased. The law is broken repeatedly and even though people are fined or punished, they break the law again.”

On the other hand, Nyesha Sen, a class 8 student from Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, Kolkata says, “Traffic in Kolkata is more or less smooth. It’s only in the morning when the roads are congested that traffic jams occur. Also, the traffic gets affected during bandhs, which are very frequent in my area (Khidirpur) and jams continue for a couple of hours.” Nyesha further adds, “The Road Safety Week is a good way to make people aware of the pros and cons of following the law. People should be careful on the road and not take safety as a game, especially as people’s lives are at stake.”

Shrey Raut, a class 9 student of Scholar High School, Mumbai says, “If the law is broken, punishment should be severe. Policemen should avoid accepting bribes. Unfortunately, this is very rampant and people know they can get away with crimes by bribing the cops! Cops need to be true to their job and strict towards rash driving or driving under the influence of alcohol. People who break laws should be fined heavily and punished and not let out scot-free.” Preeti Mittal, a student of class 7 from St John’s High School, Bengaluru adds, “Accidents due to rash driving are plenty and hence people should consider the messages promoted by the Road Safety Week as a New Year’s resolution. This can prevent accidents and also make the work of the Traffic Police easier.”

The Traffic Police have also given out booklets to schoolchildren as part of the awareness programme in order to get the message of road safety across to the younger generation, who can further pass on the message to family and friends. The booklets have cartoons with messages of safe driving, the importance of wearing helmets and other safety tips. Talking about these booklets, Chandrima Srivastava, a class 10 student at St Gregorios High School, Mumbai says, “These booklets will be of great help to us as we will learn all the traffic rules and can also make sure people around us follow them. The booklets will help create more awareness and maybe, in the future, we will become better and more responsible drivers.”

It is only when we, as individuals, make it a point to follow traffic rules that it will lead to significant changes in society’s attitude towards traffic safety. As Shreya Vajpei says, “I have always made sure my parents and my relatives follow the law. I do my bit and ensure that people put on their seat belts or helmets.” Small efforts like these can make a huge difference, so let it be our New Year’s resolution to follow traffic rules and encourage others around us to do the same.