Balurghat: Traffic police here are observing 'Road Safety Week' from January 31 to February 6 to check reckless driving and create awareness about traffic rules.
Several rallies and tableaus were organised at busy areas of the Balurghat town. District magistrate Deepap Priya P, police superintendent Nagendra Nath Tripathi, chief medical officer of health, Dr Sukumar Dey, DSP (headquarters) Dhiman Mitra, officer-in-charge (traffic) Utpal Chatterjee and police officers took part in various awareness programmes to support the initiative.
Apart from police and administrative officials, schoolchildren also took part in the ongoing-one week traffic awareness programme.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led state government has introduced 'Safe Drive Save Life' campaign to check the number road mishaps and implement traffic rules. The campaign was launched in 2016 by Kolkata traffic police and afterwards it was introduced in districts as well.
The campaigned gained popularity as it helped to sensitize people about safe driving. A song on campaign has also been composed.
"The principal objective of the campaign is to develop consciousness about road safety rules. Apart from the police, state government departments, people have to be responsible to maintain traffic rules. Usually a meeting is conducted in every month. Damaged roads and street lights are being repaired to reduce the number of accidents in the district," said DM Deepap Priya P.
District police chief Nagendra Nath Tripathi said: "We have set a target to create traffic awareness among the people. After the campaign was introduced in state, the number of accidents has reduced by 20 to 22 percent. However, the number of road mishaps here in South Dinajpur is quite high. We are working relentlessly to bring concrete changes."
Officer-in-charge (traffic) Utpal Chatterjee said a group of people were still unaware of the traffic rules and safe driving measures. "These people are reluctant to understand that their lives are precious," he said.