The city and traffic police have appealed to the departments of school and college education to introduce a ‘traffic safety’ curriculum for students till the age of 18, to enhance safety measures and create awareness about traffic related issues.
Speaking at the annual meeting with school managements along with officials of other government departments on students’ safety here on Tuesday, City Police Commissioner M. Mahender Reddy said self-discipline among children was very important to ensure that they follow traffic rules.
“About 16,000 lives are lost every year in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to road accidents,” he mentioned.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Shyam Sunder made a presentation on students’ safety, stating that 1,794 autos carrying excess school children were fined during the academic 2013-14.
“In the same period, 81 children were penalised for underage driving and 814 students were counselled,” he said.
The DCP also advised managements of educational institutions to deploy adequate number of security guards and to plan traffic management outside schools to ensure safety of students.
“Schools and colleges in the GHMC area should have 30 per cent of parking space and 20 per cent for other municipalities. Autos and other vehicles which pick up children after school must be parked properly,” he said.
Mr. Sunder also appealed to parents not to send children in crowded autos and also not take more than one child on a two-wheeler.
“They should not allow their children ride bikes without them attaining licenses and until they acquire the needed skills,” he said.
