Bangalore: With an average annual toll of 900 road accident deaths, roads in Bangalore are not all that safe.

With close to 23 lakh vehicles and 700 new registrations a day, there are not enough traffic policemen to control traffic and make things safe for road users.

Solidarity

In a gesture of solidarity and good citizenship, the city will observe Traffic Police Day on Saturday in a different manner.

The gesture will be from Children's Movement for Civic Awareness (CMCA) with visits to traffic junctions where policemen on duty will receive "Thank You" card from schoolchildren for trying their best to make the roads safe for them.

The daylong celebrations will begin at the Police Commissioner's office with Police Commissioner N. Achuta Rao and Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M.N. Reddi explaining the basics of road safety and good road sense.

Challenge

Managing the burgeoning traffic in Bangalore is a challenge for the 2000-strong force of traffic policemen.

With road rage, the hurry to reach workplaces and other destinations at any cost prevailing, traffic policemen are not appreciated as much they should be.

And, to show they do care, the children will present the police officers with a special "Thank You" card and tie bands on their arms as a symbol of citizens' appreciation for their efforts.

Civic Club members of Children's Movement for Civic Awareness will also visit several road junctions on this mission.

Messages

The children will display messages on road safety as they move across the city as part of the event.

Older Bangaloreans have been requested to show their support by small gestures of appreciation such as a "thumbs up", a wave, a smile or even words of encouragement.

Children's Movement for Civic Awareness is a joint initiative of two citizens' organisations, Public Affairs Centre, and Swabhimana.

Forum

A forum of schoolchildren in Bangalore founded on the belief that children are the most powerful messengers of change, it has been leading efforts to promote civic and environment consciousness.

It has promoted 50 Civic Clubs in schools and has reached out to 10,000 students, their families and neighbourhoods through various campaigns.

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