An NGO, engaged in promotion of road safety and good driving etiquette, today said it has started an initiative to impart education to motor training school instructors and drivers as part of its campaign to encourage safe driving and curb accidents.
The NGO, 'Chaaon', has launched the road safety initiative in association with the Motor Vehicle Department of Maharashtra Government.
Mumbai witnesses over 23,000 road accidents every year, causing death of 1,500 people and injuring over 7,000, said Chief Trustee of 'Chaaon', Sangeeta Chadha.
She said her NGO is committed to protect human lives and preserve the nation's wealth (people) through a series of road safety workshops.
Earlier, the NGO held a workshop on 'road safety' which was attended by 91 motor training school instructors, driving licence applicants, traffic rule offenders and automobile engineers.
Welcoming the contribution of the NGO, a senior transport official of Andheri RTO, said, "We are of the view that motorists should learn to spend 'adequate' time on the road while driving. Unnecessary speed and rash driving eventually leads to accidents."
Well-known road safety expert Ahustosh Atray, who is associated with Chaaon, said, "Bus and truck drivers need to be trained about proper road safety techniques as they are responsible for ferrying hundreds of passengers and also tonnes of cargo."
"It is unfortunate Mumbaikars use their mobile phones while riding bikes or driving other vehicles. My research indicates using the mobile phone while driving increases the chances of meeting a fatal accident by over 400 per cent."
"As much as 3 per cent of our country's GDP is lost annually through road accidents. About 380 people die every day in India due to such accidents, which ought to be stopped at any cost," Chadha said.
