The Rajasthan State Transport Department has launched a comprehensive, state-wide Road Safety Month, which will run from January 1 to January 30 across all districts. This intensive drive aims to curb accidents through a multi-pronged strategy involving public awareness, engineering improvements, and strict enforcement.
Multi-Faceted Awareness and Engineering Drives
District Road Safety Committees have been activated to spearhead a series of daily activities. A major focus is the Reflective Tape Campaign, with a monthly target of fitting reflective tapes on 3,000 vehicles. This initiative is not limited to motorised transport like motorcycles, tractor-trolleys, and mining dumpers but also extends to non-motorised vehicles and even the horns of animals to enhance night-time visibility.
Furthermore, the committees are mandated to conduct daily audio-video presentations in public spaces, including gram panchayats, municipal wards, schools, and colleges. Local media will be engaged to highlight key accident-prone zones and inform citizens about available facilities.
Focus on Infrastructure and Accident Black Spots
A significant infrastructural component forms the backbone of the month-long effort. Each district has been instructed to clear bushes and encroachments along a five-kilometre stretch every day. Simultaneously, the local administration must install necessary road furniture and carry out remedial work in five major accident-prone areas or black spots identified within their jurisdiction.
Grassroots Engagement: From Schools to Public Places
The drive places strong emphasis on community participation. In a unique move, district administrations will create "road safety pioneers" by distributing sweets in public places identified by the committees. Educational institutions will see a flurry of activities, including road safety slogan competitions, workshops, and block-level essay writing competitions.
A structured program for schools mandates that every secondary and senior secondary school appoint one nodal teacher. This teacher will conduct workshops in two shifts: from 10 am to 1 pm and again from 2 pm to 5 pm. Students will also be encouraged to write letters to their parents, urging them to adhere to traffic rules and signs, thereby spreading the message to households.
With this coordinated approach targeting drivers, pedestrians, students, and rural communities, Rajasthan's transport department aims to instil a lasting culture of road safety across the state.
