What can we do to improve road safety for children and adolescents?
1.2 million Die in road accidents each year. A child is killed in an accident every three minutes. Road safety is increasingly becoming a major killer and a worldwide concern, particularly for young people. What can we do to address the issue?
The media has been a largely overlooked factor in creating road safety awareness. They would convey the message that safe driving is “cool” driving, and constantly reinforce that drunken driving, using a cell phone on the road and driving without a seatbelt (or helmet) are not only dangerous, but “seriously unfashionable.” Celebrities could also actively encourage walking or cycling whenever and wherever possible.
Safety awareness should begin from childhood, as it is difficult to impart awareness to a grown up Human. If safety awareness is imparted in childhood, safety will become a habit. Video and Computer games involving Motor Racing should be controlled / banned by Government or discouraged by parents as it will develop racing habit in children. All sorts of Motor sports, especially racing should be banned by government. Telecast of Motor Sports and Racing also should be banned. Racing, over speed, highly risky riding / driving by heroes should not be filmed in movies and TV Serials. Children are likely to imitate the same. Statutory warning will not help. Government should censor such scenes. Road accidents are to be recognized as the worst problem of the country. While only few hundred are killed in terrorist attacks, more than one lakh people are killed in road accidents every year in India. Threat due to terrorism is not being underestimated. Road accidents are to be firmly dealt with due