Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 11: Senior Superintendent of ‘Traffic Police Srinagar, Muzaffar Shah, today said that nearly 1.5 lakh people lose their lives annually across the country due to negligence towards safety measures, urging people to prioritise their safety by adhering to traffic rules and regulations.
Shah, while launching ‘Traffic Awareness Week’ in collaboration with the Regional Transport Office of Kashmir and Nehru Yuva Kendra, stressed the need for people to prioritise their safety by adhering to traffic rules and regulations.
During the march that commenced from the Polo Ground in Srinagar and saw significant participation, especially from students, Shah underlined the government’s unwavering commitment to reducing fatalities. “The traffic rules and regulations have been framed, and they should be followed. We aim to ensure more and more participation, particularly from students, as they are the future of this society. If we can instill a positive change in their behaviour and thinking, it will have a significant impact on reducing traffic-related losses,” he said.
Shah reiterated the common sense practice of giving right of way to emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire tenders. He warned that obstructing such vehicles could result in a penalty of around Rs 10,000 under the Motor Vehicle Act. “If an emergency vehicle is in motion, it has the right of way,” he said.
Reflecting on the positive trend over the last decade, Shah noted a decrease in the number of deaths, attributing it to community participation. Despite a 10-15 percent growth in the number of vehicles, including those from other states, on the roads, Shah expressed optimism that accidents could be significantly reduced if people strictly followed traffic rules and regulations.
Highlighting a zero-tolerance policy towards overloading, Shah revealed that nearly 30,000 transport vehicles were fined for overloading last year. He emphasised the ongoing efforts to penalise such violations and underscored the responsibility of drivers to ensure safe transportation.
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