We Demand Right To Safe Roads
Author(s): City Air NewsChandigarh, November 13, 2015: Citizens Awareness Group --- A Voluntary Consumer Organisation (VCO) and affected families from across U.T.Chandigarh, Punjab & Haryana with support from Consumer VOICE, New Delhi...
cityairnews
Nov 13, 2015 10:30
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Chandigarh, November 13, 2015: Citizens Awareness Group --- A Voluntary Consumer Organisation (VCO) and affected families from across U.T.Chandigarh, Punjab & Haryana with support from Consumer VOICE, New Delhi are organising a peaceful walk at Plaza, Opposite Neelam Theatre, Sector-17, Chandigarh at 4:00pm on 15th November, 2015 to mark Day of Remembrance for road accident victims and demand safe roads for all. About 250 people are expected to participate in the peace walk.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in the last 10 years, over 12 lakh people have been killed on India’s roads. In 2014 alone, 1.4 lakh people, including 17,000 children were killed in road accidents across India.
People from all walks of life are supporting demand for Safe Roads by participating in this Walk. Scores of school children will also be walking asking the government to ensure their protection on roads. People who have themselves been grievously injured in road accidents are also coming forward to extend their solidarity to the cause besides families effected.
Several organizations lent their support questioning the intent of government on bringing a strong road safety law. Consumer VOICE said “The road safety bill promised by the Government is yet to see the light of day. All we have seen is severe dilution to the proposed drafts with many road safety statutes missing from the latest version”
Komal Kamra from The Spinal Foundation, a victim of road accident said "we read about hit-and-run cases everyday. It seems just a statistic until it affects you. Twenty two years ago, I lost my entire family to a road accident. In India, maximum number of spinal injuries are due to road accidents. As much as policy changes are required but also needed is proper enforcement."
Road accidents are an epidemic that the Government can no longer afford to ignore. And all avenues - be it Road design, driving skills, traffic management, vehicle design, policing, enforcement etc. need to be addressed through a strong and comprehensive Road Safety legislation immediately. This should be addressed in the proposed Road Safety Bill 2015 which is to be introduced in the Parliament this winter session. Hence we request our media friends to give a wide coverage to this event.
Date:
Friday, November 13, 2015
