HAILAKANDI, Feb 5 - The 30th National Road Safety Week got under way in Hailakandi district on Monday.
Road Safety Week is being observed from February 4-10 this year against the usual practice of holding it in January. Like in the previous year, the theme of this year�s theme is �Sadak Suraksha- Jeevan Raksha�.
District Development Commissioner Amalendu Roy inaugurated the Road Safety Week in the presence of district administration and transport officials and traffic police personnel.
A procession to generate awareness about traffic rules was brought out in which scores of students and teachers participated. The procession traversed through the main thoroughfares of Hailakandi town.
In the meantime, the district transport authorities along with the traffic police will undertake a slew of road safety measures and awareness campaigns on road safety to reduce the number of road accidents across the district.
Around 1.5 lakh people lose their lives in road accidents throughout the country every year, which causes economic hardships and emotional trauma for numerous families.
It may be mentioned here that the number of motor vehicles is increasing at the rate of 10% every year. �Rising traffic on the roads and resultant accidents are a leading cause of death, disability and hospitalisation among people,� an official of the district Transport Department said, adding that �accident prevention relies on 4Es � Education, Enforcement, Engineering and Emergency Care.�
Studies conducted by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways show that 78% of road accidents occur due to the fault of drivers.
