Traffic police to impart road safety training in schools

Road accidents are responsible for the highest number of deaths around the world

SWABI: Road safety is a subject which should be addressed at an early age to create awareness among young people to the potential hazards on the road.

This has been the norm in developed countries of the world where children are made aware of road safety and it should become also be made part and parcel in the third world.

Road accidents are responsible for the highest number of deaths everywhere in the world and it is imperative that attitudes and understanding of road safety is enhanced

It can best be said that it is a commendable effort on the part of the  Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa  police which despite the fact is engaged in fighting militancy as a frontline force have taken precious time out to start  an awareness programme in schools in district Swabi.

District Police Officer Sohaib Ashraf at the request of District Education Officer, Jahangir Khan has taken the initiative of organizing workshops and awareness campaigns in the govt schools around the district.

Statiscally according to the World Health Organization, road traffic injuries caused an estimated 1.25 million deaths worldwide in the year 2010, that is, one person is killed every 25 seconds.

As regards laws governing road safety only 28 countries in the world community, representing 449 million people (7% of the world’s population), have adequate laws that address all five risk factors speed, drunk driving, helmets, seat-belts and child restraints.

Over a third of road traffic deaths in low- and middle-income countries are among pedestrians and cyclists. However, less than 35% of low- and middle-income countries have policies in place to protect these road users.

Chief  trainer and district traffic incharge Janab Ali who is imparting training and awareness classes for teachers and students in schools, while speaking to The Express Tribune said “ we are witnessing a surge in traffic accidents in the district and most of them involve minors who do not  have licenses nor are they  authorised  to drive so rather than depriving them to drive again we are teaching them road safety.

Another traffic officer Zuhaib said that in a recent report published  Pakistan is one of the leading  countries where commuters drive their vehicles without proper documents.

He said that the report stated  that only in the 2013 some 25,781 died in road mishaps

DEO Swabi, who assumed office  last June, has asked the DPO  Swabi to arrange special safety education to create awareness on the hazard of  road accidents, militants attacks on school and natural calamities.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2017.