Navhind Times on the Web: GoaAt last someone is doing something sensible about road accidents. Helmets are effective only at speeds at which drunks never drive. .....and pedestrians who get killed[ by these drunks in trucks,buses, cars and mobikes] do not wear helmets.
Viva Goa. Miguel Sunday, November 30, 2003 IRTE launches Wheel-Watch campaign NT Staff Reporter Panaji Nov 29: The Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) launched its two-month ‘Wheel-Watch’ campaign at the S S Dempo College of Commerce and Economics, in the city, today, for spreading an awareness about the hazards of driving after consumption of alcohol-based drinks. “The campaign will focus on encouraging the drivers to drive responsibly on the roads,” the director of the state unit of IRTE, Dr Ananda Helecar said. The campaign is supported by the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), the state Transport Department and a manufacturer of alcohol-based drinks, Guinness UDV Ltd. The first phase of the campaign will be executed in December 2003 and January 2004, in Goa and later, it would be extended to other states. “Although there has been increasing enforcement of the law on permissible limit of drinking for drivers, it is also imperative that we initiate education on hazards of driving after consumption of liquor,” Dr Helecar added. As per the Motor Vehicle Act, the permissible level of alcohol-based drinks for the drivers is 30 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of his or her blood; however this fact is grossly neglected, he lamented. The campaign is designed to garner mass support by developing a network of young volunteers from colleges and senior school classes. IRTE and Goa Traffic Police will train the volunteers about the effects of alcohol on driving. After the training, the volunteers will spread out and disseminate the message in their respective neighbourhood localities through short skits and distribution of leaflets. In addition, cartoon drawing/ painting, slogan coining and essay writing contests will be conducted in schools to spread an awareness about this issue. The themes for each competition will focus on the issue of drunken driving and hazards related to it. The director (external affairs) of Guinness UDV, Mr Rajeeb Mallick said that the company manufacturing alcohol-based drinks has associated itself with this campaign because of its social obligation. “The company wants to propagate the culture of responsible drinking among its consumers,” he said, pointing out that a number of accidents can be averted if the drivers of the vehicles refrain from excessive drinking. The CCP Commissioner, Mr Sanjeet Rodrigues, speaking on the occasion said that the Corporation is participating in the campaign with a vision for the social change. “Even if we fail to educate people on this issue, the necessary awareness would result out of it,” he mentioned. Ms Jayashree S of IRTE, Goa, stated that reducing accidents is not IRTE’s responsibility. “IRTE however imparts education in road traffic and gives its recommendations regarding the same to the government,” she said, adding that the institute has no powers to implement these recommendations. Replying to a question, she said that the institute which has been established in the state for a period of over two years, is yet to collect the data relating to road accidents resulting from drunken driving. Navhind Times on the Web ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
