Children play an important role in traffic safety. They not only educate themselves about traffic rules, but also remind their parents to wear seat belts or to watch out for the traffic signs and signals.
Ready help
The Hyderabad Traffic Police has roped in students to act as Traffic Commandos. “Since the number of schools in Hyderabad is vast, it will be difficult for traffic police to manage traffic near every school. So we decided to get help. A Traffic Policeman or a Home Guard is present while the students act as commandos, to avoid accidents,” says G.V.K Ashok Kumar, DCP Traffic.
About 25 children of Std. VIII and IX are selected to act as Traffic Commandos. They do their duty wearing a uniform given to them by the Traffic Police.
“I feel being a traffic commando, it is my responsibility to take care of the safety of my school students. My duty is to stop vehicles and help students cross the road safely. I do this for about 20 minutes before and after school hours,” says Pavan Kashyap, a Std. IX student from Sister Nivedita School.
Assistance
“We have had students acting as commandos for the past three years, before the Hyderabad traffic police introduced it. We introduced the programme in the school keeping the safety of the students in mind.
This programme teaches them to be responsible. This induces traffic sense into the students and helps them to be careful.” says, Jayanthi, Principal of Sister Nivedita School. Many cities in India have come up with Traffic Children Park where children are given a place to learn the rules of the road. Children above 16 are allowed to ride, provided they have a learners license and are riding a vehicle of less than 50CC engine. It is necessary that they are educated about road safety before they get on roads.
