Dehradun। A Road Safety Month awareness programme was inaugurated at AIIMS Kalyani by its President, Prof. Dr Y.K. Gupta. The event was attended by Padma Shri Prof. Dr B.K.S. Sanjay, President of AIIMS Guwahati, Prof. Dr Arvind Sinha, Director of AIIMS Kalyani, Ashish Maurya, Superintendent of Police, Ranaghat Police District, along with several other distinguished guests.
Delivering a motivational lecture on road safety, Prof. Sanjay stated that nearly 90 per cent of road accidents occur due to driver negligence and described reckless driving primarily as a behavioural issue. He emphasised that behavioural change is possible at any stage of life and that such awareness initiatives play a crucial role in shaping positive attitudes among young people.
He further observed that despite the presence of thousands of academic institutions in India, the number of formal driving schools remains inadequate in proportion to the need. Calling driving an essential life skill, he noted that education, employment, business and recreation often depend upon the ability to drive or travel safely.
Highlighting road accidents as a serious public health concern, Prof. Sanjay urged policymakers to consider institutions such as AIIMS as nodal agencies in their respective regions to effectively promote road safety awareness at the national level. A Guinness World Record-holding orthopaedic surgeon, he reiterated the importance of responsible road behaviour, strict adherence to traffic regulations and the cultivation of safe driving habits.
Summing up his message, he said, Driving is a skill, safety is a habit together they save lives. To extend the impact of the programme beyond the auditorium, more than 500 students participated in a cycle rally to spread the message of road safety. The audience gave him a standing ovation in appreciation of his address.
