The State transport department and Chennai traffic police have organised a series of awareness programmes to observe road safety week in the city and the State.
Programmes as part of the week began on January 11 and will go on till January 20 with gaps on January 14, 15 and 16 due to Pongal celebrations. “This year, the focus is on drunken driving and following simple traffic rules. We have chalked out different programmes for different days and they will be held in a throughout the State,” said a senior transport official.
On the first day, transport minister V. Senthil Balaji, Mayor Saidai.S. Duraisamy and transport corporation bus drivers participated in a rally from Light House to Labour Statue. An exhibition displaying photos of accidents and the plight of those who did not follow road safety norms was also organised near Labour Statue
A drama on road safety was organised all over the State on the second day. On the third day a student rally was conducted from Anna Statue on Anna Salai to Labour Statue. “On January 17, we will hold medical camps for bus drivers. On the next day, we will conduct essay competitions on road safety for school and college students,” said the official.
On 19, pamphlets with simple road safety messages will be distributed to motorists and on the last day, staff of all transport undertakings and school students will take a pledge to abide by traffic rules.
Meanwhile, the Chennai traffic police will also conduct awareness drives across the city. “We will place boards with road safety messages across the city. Awareness programmes will be conducted for school students and autorickshaw drivers too,” said a senior traffic police officer.
