Many a time, we are left worrying at the sight of motorists whizzing on the road, not caring a bit about traffic rules or the safety of other motorists and pedestrians. Realising the need to create awareness about the dangers of flouting traffic rules among students, The Tamil Nadu Police Traffic Wardens Organisation (Coimbatore City Unit) has formed Road Safety Patrol Units to motivate and train students on road safety measures. New RSP units were launched in five corporation schools recently.
In action soon
Around 100 students who are interested are given training by the Traffic Wardens Organisation. Around 9,000 students are part of the programme. The units will function under the guidance of teachers. Enrolling and training of the new members are in progress and the units would become fully functional by next year.
The RSP members will stand near the school premises before and after school time to ensure congestion-free traffic. They will not allow vehicles to park, drop or pick up students in front of the school gates. The members will help students cross the road and also encourage them to walk on footpaths.
The programme, now in its fourth year, is implemented in 45 schools including 14 corporation schools. Government and corporation schools find it difficult to carry out the programme as the students could not afford RSP uniforms. RSP units require uniforms to be fully functional. Philanthropists have donated 350 uniforms making it possible to implement the programme in five more schools.
T. Senthil Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime and Traffic, inaugurated the new units and distributed the copies of “My personal Road Safety Guide” to the students.
As many as 500 students from Government Girls H.S. School, Ondipudur, Government Boys H.S. School, Ondipudur, Corporation Girls H.S. School, Ramanakrishnapuram, Corporation Boys H.S. School, Ramanathapuram, and Rajalakshmi Mills High School, Singanallur, took a pledge and joined the programme.
According to A. Mahesh, Chief Traffic Warden, 33 out of every 100 deaths are caused by traffic accidents and this amounts to 1.35 lakh deaths a year. Most of these accidents are caused by minor negligence like not wearing helmet and not being careful while crossing roads. RSP members could take the message of road safety measures to their families and neighbourhoods.
The Tamil Nadu Traffic wardens Organisation in association with the Young Indians — Coimbatore Chapter, a part of the Confederation of Indian Industry, would also conduct “Friendly Five” road safety activities for school and college students who are part of Yi Student's Net. The programme includes innovative games that would give insights into responsible driving, while focusing on five traffic rules at a time. The programme focuses on “un-learning road rage”, to sensitise young motorists against unruly behaviour on the roads.
