Looking at the increasing deaths in road accidents in India, the Forum for Prevention of Road accidents (FPRA), in association with the nternational Road Federation (IRF), held a press conference to mark the launching of the Decade of Action for Road Safety by the United Nations (UN).

Participants in the conference informed that over 90 per cent of road accident deaths and injuries occur in low and middle income countries, which have only 48 per cent of the world’s registered vehicles. Road mishaps have become a leading cause of deaths of youths between 15-29 years and in next 10 years; the World Health Organisation (WHO) predicts that this figure would be double if sincere efforts are not made to check it. IRF Secretary, Raj Pal said the objective of the global campaign is to halt the alarming rise in road accidents in India because in an average 15 people in our country die in one hour due to road accidents.

Throwing light on the objectives and activities of the IRF, Pal said the global initiative is aimed at reducing the casualties in road accidents in our country by long-term action. FPRA Founder Secretary, Bikash Mohaptra pointed out that road accidents in India can be brought down by comprehensive legislation and strict enforcement of road traffic rules. Improved road safety planning, infrastructure development and awareness campaigns would go a long way in checking the fatal rates in road accidents, Mohapatra added.

On the occasion, two road safety documents prepared by the IRF were screened, and there are plans to show these documents in all cinema houses, schools and colleges in the State so as to develop a sense of responsibilities among the stakeholders to reduce the deaths in road accidents, Mohapatra informed. Just over 40 media persons attended the meeting, representing O TV, E TV, S TV, Kamyab, Naxatra News, MBC TV, Kanak TV, Samaya, Prajatantra, Dharitri, Pragativadi, Anupam Bharat, Telegraph, Sambad, Khabara, Samaya, Samaj etc.