The Delhi Traffic Police has asked the Education department to make road safety programme part of school curriculum. It has written to the department to issue a direction to all the Delhi schools to impart lesson in road safety to their students compulsorily.
Citing the increasing cases of under-age driving in Delhi and lack of road safety awareness among the students, the Delhi Traffic Police has urged the Education Department to depute a road safety coordinator in each school in the Capital.
The move was initiated to sensitise the children to the dangers and risks posed by underage driving. The programme will not only give the children knowledge about road safety but also help in spreading awareness among their family members and in the neighbourhood. Traffic officials claimed that if youngsters follow and educate everyone about road safety it would bring about a big change.
Officials said that parents and school authorities have a major role in making the programme successful. “The parents should not give in to the demands and the tantrums thrown by the children. They should allow the children to drive vehicles. Parents should only allow the children to drive once they have become major and have a valid driving licence. The school should keep an eye on students to check if they bring vehicle to school,” said Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Muktesh Chander. Parents, school and the traffic police should join hands to curb the menace of underage driving, he added.
In its letter, the Traffic Police sought intervention of the Education department by way of issuing directives to schools in Delhi to depute a Road Safety Coordinator in every school to sensitize the student to refrain from indulging in riding/driving at a minor age.
“It is pertinent to mention that some parents are encouraging underage driving by gifting vehicles to their minor children. On a surprise checking on September 17, 176 schoolchildren were found driving motor vehicles in an unauthorised way. The objective is to address this crucial issue with the students and parents by way of organising road safety awareness programmes in coordination with Road Safety Coordinator in the schools,” the letter stated.
Involvement of schoolchildren, Parent-Teacher Association and school authorities would go a long way in inculcating Road Safety habits among students and reduction of road accidents in Delhi, it said.
This year 1,110 fatal accidents and 4,909 non-fatal accidents (up to September 15) have occurred. A significant number of minors have lost their lives in these accidents.