Over the next one week, several programmes focused on inculcating road safety values in vehicle owners, as well as schoolchildren, will be held across the State, as part of the Road Safety Week being observed by the Transport Department.
This year, the theme is ‘Your safety secures your family, be cautious on road’. Presently, the State ranks fourth in the country in terms of fatalities from road accidents. A majority of the accidents are caused by two-wheelers which constitute 78 per cent of all vehicles registered in Karnataka, according to the Department.
Speaking at the launch of the Road Safety Week on Monday, Transport Commissioner M.K. Aiyappa said, “Our aim is to reduce accidents by 30 per cent by the year 2020.” Announcing new projects being taken up by the Department, Mr. Aiyappa said that new vehicle testing centres will be built at Mangaluru, Shivamogga and Kalaburgi in the coming year.
Automated driver-training test tracks would also come up in Mysuru, Hassan and Dharwad, it was announced. “Today, there is a lot more awareness about the Good Samaritan rules and people are more willing to help road accident victims. Awareness about the golden hour is also high,” said B. Basavaraju, Transport Secretary.
The week, which will end on January 22, will see a host of events such as painting, poster-making contests and awareness programmes across various RTOs including Bengaluru.
