Director General of Police (DGP) Vikas Sahay Wednesday stressed on the need for civic sense and discipline among citizens to reduce loss of lives in road accidents. Sahay, who was in Vadodara to flag off a road safety rally of the Vadodara City Police, said that the drive to enforce wearing helmets was to “save lives” and not “for mere collection of fines.”
Speaking at the event to flag off a three-kilometre rally of the Vadodara City Police with the message of road safety and enforcement of the rule to wear helmets from September 15, the DGP said that the number of fatal road accidents were a cause for concern.
“The number of road accidents across the country and even in the state, especially those where lives are lost, are concerning… We are constantly thinking of ways in which we can reduce these numbers. For that, considering road safety, we are introducing initiatives across the state…”
Stating that inculcation of civic sense was a must and should be a part of human conduct, Sahay said, “Road safety has to be instilled and people must be made aware about it. Every person should have civic sense … When we speak of civic sense, it needs discipline, not just in traffic but in all walks of life. It is necessary… We are seeing this civic sense lacking. How should people conduct themselves with each other is civic sense and it is extremely important to develop.”
Sahay added, “We are going ahead with enforcement of helmet rules in Vadodara. We are not doing this for mere collection of fines but to safeguard people and reduce loss of lives… It should become a part (of learned behaviour) how one must follow lane discipline, not drive on the wrong side, wear seat belts, not speak on mobile phone (while driving). It has to become part of one’s everyday behaviour.”
Sahay did not respond to questions about the alleged murder of a Class X student outside an Ahmedabad school.
