State Workshop Underscores Urgency for Civic Sense and Safety Compliance
Bhopal, October 15 (Administrative Correspondent): A startling report presented at a state-level workshop on road safety measures has revealed that human error is the culprit behind a staggering 93% of road accidents across the country and state. Only a minor 7% of incidents are attributable to road design flaws or the lack of proper signage.
The revelation emerged during a one-day State Level Workshop on Road Safety Measures at the R.C.V.P. Noronha Academy of Administration and Management. Principal Secretary of the Public Works Department, Sukhbeer Singh, clarified the situation, noting that identified 1041 ‘black spots’ in the state have seen short-term improvements completed, while long-term fixes are slated for completion by PWD and MPRDC by 2027 and 2028, respectively.
CM Stresses ‘Life is Priceless’
Addressing the workshop, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav launched the “Sanjay” advanced application for modern road safety measures and appealed passionately to citizens. “Life is priceless,” he stated, emphasizing that disregarding road safety rules due to haste or carelessness is unacceptable. He urged everyone to wear a helmet while riding two-wheelers and to never forget the seat belt in four-wheelers. The CM stressed that adherence to safety rules is a primary duty, driven by civic sense, which requires protecting not only one’s own life but also the lives of others.
New Initiatives and Data
Chief Secretary Anurag Jain highlighted that around 53% of accidents nationally involve two-wheelers, asserting that correct helmet use could save 60% of lives. He also mentioned a new Central government Emergency Response System, which will ensure immediate hospital notification and up to ₹1.5 lakh of free treatment for the first seven days post-accident.
The workshop also saw the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between PWD, MPRDC, and experts like IIT Madras and Save Life Foundation. PWD Minister Rakesh Singh confirmed that expert agencies will be engaged to ensure safety standards, including signboards and reflectors, on smaller roads to maintain quality control.
