Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Students to control traffic

Thiruvananthapuram: The government will launch a traffic awareness programme in educational institutions as part of the community policing programme being implemented in the State, Minister for Home and Tourism Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said.

Inaugurating the Road Safety Week celebrations organised by the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (Natpac) in association with the traffic police here on Wednesday, Mr. Balakrishnan said the aim was to cultivate a generation having traffic sense.

School and college students would be roped in as traffic wardens as part of the programme.

The Home Minister said NCC cadets would also be roped in to assist the traffic police in the State.

Stating that Kerala tops the States in the country in terms of road accidents, the Minister said that the government would strictly implement traffic rules and instructions had been given to this extent. The police officials who had to implement the rules on helmet and seat belt should ensure that it was done with the support of the motorists and as a life saving intervention.

In his address, ADGP (Intelligence) Jacob Punnose called for hiking the penalty for various traffic offences to ensure that road discipline was maintained.

“The Rs.100 that was introduced as fine for traffic offences in 1939 still continues. Many throw currency notes of Rs.100 when booked and walk away,” he said.

Mr. Punose said 12 lakh motorists were caught for various traffic offences in the State during 2006.

Stern action needed to be taken against school children who venture on to the roads in motorcycles.

Executive vice-president of KSCSTE E. P. Yesodharan presided over the meeting.

Former Chairman of the Railway Board M.N. Prasad; IGP, Thiruvananthapuram range, Arun Kumar Sinha; city Police Commissioner Ravada A. Chandrasekhar; Deputy Commissioner M. Abdul Wahab; Project Coordinator, Natpac, G. Ravikumar; assistant commissioners, Traffic, P. Mohanan Nair and K.S. Sreekumar attended.

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