he consequences of not using a crash helmet, fastening a seat belt, or driving under the influence of alcohol, driving at high speed, overtaking and overloaded auto-rickshaws were brought to the fore in the simulation of road accidents that stretched up to half-a-km on the Beach Road.
Those who witnessed the gory scenes for the last three consecutive years, mock drill in 2012 and ‘Road alertness awareness and safe travel ambience’ (Raasta) in 2013 and 2014, were sure enough to carry forward the message of safe driving practices. Thanks to the efforts made by Ganesh Ratho of Sathgeeth Creations for taking a simulation route to create awareness on road safety. Perhaps, it is his innovative thought that helped him gain an entry into the Limca Book of Records for the second time.
In an interaction with The Hindu , Mr. Ganesh, a senior video journalist-turned-event manager, shares what it means to reach out to people and make a difference. “Those who witnessed the simulation made sure that their family members stick to traffic rules.
In addition, the entire team of Sathgeeth Creations, local artistes and students from various schools and colleges started taking things more seriously,” says Ganesh who feels honoured to receive the certificate of the Limca Book of Records from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on August 15.
“Appreciating the novel concept, Mr. Naidu suggested organisation of similar mock drill in Vijayawada as well and assured that the State government would extend all the support to the initiative,” says Mr. Ganesh, who found a place in the Limca Book of Records, Asia Book of Records, Telugu Book of Records and Book of State Records in 2012 for organising mass singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ for 3,09,000 times involving 10,300 students and volunteers. To make the awareness campaign more effective, Ganesh feels that victims of road accidents and their family members should come forward to share their experiences. “Our effort is to encourage people to consider road safety as a way of life,” he says.
Future projects
Road safety awareness programme involving transgenders and campaign to prevent drowning deaths are some of the future projects that he plans to take up.
Those who had witnessed the simulation made sure that their family members followed traffic rules
Ganesh ratho
