TALKING SAFETY: Greater Chennai Police Commissioner R. Nataraj interacts with road safety patrol cadets from various schools. — Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

CHENNAI: They are the most vulnerable on the city's accident-prone roads. Of the 133 lives lost on Chennai roads last year (till March), 47 were two-wheeler drivers and pillion riders. In 2004, the number of deaths crossed 200.

According to Greater Chennai Police Commissioner R. Nataraj, two-wheeler drivers and pedestrians are the most affected in road accidents. "Every year, 60 per cent of the number of those killed in accidents in the city are two-wheeler drivers and pedestrians," he said on Monday after inaugurating traffic police's `Road Safety Campaign-2006.' He attributed the numbers to violation of road rules as well as to the increase in the vehicle population.

Mr. Nataraj pointed to the lack of patronage that led to the failure of a separate two-wheeler track introduced on Poonamallee High Road last year. The Commissioner urged autorickshaw drivers not to park at bus stands and appealed to MTC drivers to avoid rash driving.Mr. Nataraj mooted community participation in traffic regulation and said there was need for road safety patrol cadets from schools. "Earlier there were only 6,000 cadets. Now we have extended the project to Corporation and government schools. We now have 42,000 cadets, and they have been given a kit consisting of a cap, an armed band and a glove." T.K. Rajendran, Additional Commissioner of Police, and K.C. Mahali, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), participated.

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