The Hindu Business Line : `Awareness drives can improve road safety'

A well-researched and planned public education campaign accompanied by proper enforcement alone can bring about changes in road safety behaviour, said Mr Greg Rowe, a publicity education specialist with the Kerala Road Safety Action Plan Project.

Speaking at a seminar on `road safety initiatives' organised by National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) and Kerala State Road Transport Project here on Tuesday, he pointed out that such a public education programme must be an ongoing process.

Key road safety issues that Kerala needs to address include promoting the use of seat belts and helmets, improper overtaking, and driving after drinking alcohol, he said. The State needs to prepare a 12-month calendar of public education on road safety, he added.

Kerala needs to set up a research programme with NATPAC's involvement to support public education campaigns, Mr Rowe said. The State must also set up a road safety publicity unit, he added.

In a presentation on the road safety issues in Kerala, Dr Mahesh Chand, Chief Project Coordinator, NATPAC, pointed out that Kerala is the second most accident-prone State in India. Instances of aggressive driving, road rage and drunk driving are growing in the State. Dr Chand also presented highlights of a NATPAC survey in Thiruvananthapuram, which found that 90 per cent of the respondents are not aware that wearing seat belts in compulsory.

Drivers are reluctant to wear seat belts because of concerns that belts restrict movement and are uncomfortable, the survey found. The survey recommends a campaign to educate people on the benefits of seat belts, and to position police personnel as role models for soft enforcement.

Similarly, another survey on the use of helmets revealed that 62 per cent of the respondents in Thiruvananthapuram and 76 per cent in Ernakulam owned helmets. However, only 8 per cent of respondents in Thiruvananthapuram and 28 per cent in Ernakulam were actually found using helmets.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, Dr A. Jayathilak, Project Director, Kerala State Road Transport Project, said that road safety is a multi-sectoral matter. Hence, coordination between different agencies is vital for the success of road safety initiatives, he added.

Dr A. E. Muthunayagam, Executive Vice-President, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, pointed out that road safety is a key research area for NATPAC. Mr T. Elangovan of NATPAC and Mr Jim Jarvis of Kerala Road Safety Action Plan Project also addressed the gathering.

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