The Ballari district in Karnataka is gearing up for an extensive, district-wide road safety awareness campaign scheduled to run throughout the entire month of January. The initiative, set to commence on January 1 and conclude on January 30, aims to tackle the rising concern over traffic accidents through widespread public education and engagement.
Campaign Details and Key Stakeholders
The campaign was officially announced by Rajesh N Hosamane, who serves as the member-secretary of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) and is a senior civil judge. He clarified that the drive is being organized following specific directives from the executive chairman of the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA). The execution will be a collaborative effort involving the Ballari DLSA, all taluk legal services committees, and a host of other concerned departments.
Rajesh Hosamane outlined a multi-pronged approach to raise awareness. The campaign will feature awareness marches, street plays, and dedicated road safety programs conducted at various educational institutions. The primary goal is to foster adherence to traffic regulations, promote accident prevention strategies, and encourage safe driving habits among students, young people, and the general public.
Addressing the Root Causes of Accidents
Attributing the surge in road accidents largely to poor compliance with traffic rules, the SLSA has issued directives to a wide array of organizations to participate actively. The list includes the transport, police, traffic, education, public works, and health and family welfare departments. Additionally, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), bar associations, insurance companies, NGOs, schools, colleges, public and private institutions, community centres, clubs, and hospitals have been called upon to organize programs and help create public awareness.
"It is essential to educate people, especially school and college students, about traffic rules," emphasized Rajesh Hosamane. He highlighted critical issues contributing to the problem, such as the exponential growth in the number of vehicles and the prevalent issue of improper parking. He urged the concerned authorities to identify and designate proper parking spaces to ease congestion.
Call for Strict Action and Cooperation
The senior civil judge also called for stringent measures, including registering cases against parents of minors who are found driving vehicles. Furthermore, he instructed that broken-down vehicles on national highways must be immediately moved to the roadside for repairs to prevent obstructions and subsequent hazards.
For the effective implementation of this month-long campaign, Rajesh Hosamane sought full cooperation from key bodies including the district administration, the Zilla Panchayat (ZP), police, transport and education departments, and other urban local bodies. The success of the initiative hinges on this coordinated effort across multiple government and public sectors.
This concerted push in Ballari represents a significant step towards building a culture of road safety, aiming to reduce accidents through proactive education and enforcement, with a special focus on shaping the habits of the younger generation.
