Whose voice will get you to pay attention – Rajinikanth’s or that of an RTO employee? Understanding that actors have a greater reach when it comes to spreading awareness, transport officials have roped in mimicry artists to create awareness on road safety.
Road Safety Week programmes were launched in the city on Sunday. While the Chennai traffic police is organising various programmes, including distribution of helmets, the transport department has been conducting awareness drives.
“Apart from the routine practice of giving pamphlets, we thought it would be better to do something that will have an impact on people. Hence, we decided to use mimicry, mime and street play,” an official from the Aynavaram RTO says.
The mimicry artiste spoke about the dangers of drunken driving, speaking on the mobile phone while riding, flouting the helmet rule etc. “This was done at our RTO itself. People came and stayed back for quite a while to watch. They would not have if it was yet another speech,” he adds
Apart from this, street plays were organised by transport offices in New Avadi, Pulianthope, Tondiarpet and Aynavaram. “We roped in students to enact the dangers of flouting traffic rules. There was also a mime performance by the students,” says another transport official.
Reducing risk
A joy ride in the vehicles of parents or relatives often proves risky to youngsters. But, this does not seem to deter drivers under 18 from zooming by on city roads.
A few years ago, a higher secondary school student in Anna Nagar died in a fatal accident on an unlit stretch. Despite attempts made by government agencies and schools to curb the practice, it is common to spot school-uniform clad students riding two-wheelers.
"We enforce the law in our school premises and create awareness among students. But, this practice continues on roads. Parents must be held responsible for letting children drive. People who allow youngsters to park vehicles on roads must alert the police,” says H.E.Wilkins, chairman, Doveton Corrie group of schools.
The Transport Department plans to change a provision in the Motor Vehicles Act whereby those aged 16 are allowed to ride vehicles with an engine capacity of less than 50 cc.
“Automobile manufacturers have largely stopped manufacturing such vehicles. We plan to raise the bar and make 18 the minimum age. We levy fines on youngsters or detain vehicles and insist on parents retrieving them. Parents play a pivotal role in controlling under-age driving,” says an official.
(Reporting by Vivek Narayanan and K. Lakshmi)
