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maxwell pereira, joint commissioner (traffic), delhi police, on the ongoing promotional campaign of the times of india and the delhi traffic police. what was the idea behind this promotional campaign? to start with, i must say that the efforts of the media at improving the condition of traffic in delhi merit appreciation. it is important that the public and public-related agencies join hands, pool in their resources and help frame solutions for traffic-related problems countrywide. as of now, we have barely touched the tip of the iceberg as regards creating awareness about traffic rules — we still have to go a long way in educating people. and this is where the ongoing promotional campaign will prove beneficial. how do you propose to familiarise people with traffic rules through this promotional campaign? we have drawn up a list of road rules which both vehicle-drivers and pedestrians should be familiar with. a common error committed on the road involves driving around roundabouts. very few people are aware of the fact that one must stop if a vehicle is already present on the right side of a roundabout. traffic-wise, which areas demand immediate attention? i believe that the major problem stems from all concerned — be it road-users or managers— showing no interest in traffic conditions. then, there is no single agency which can be held accountable for deaths on the road. besides, when driving licences are issued, applicants are never apprised of what qualifies as right of way. we need to work towards establishing necessary infrastructure and educating people. as regards traffic-related hazards, what kind of story do figures tell? each year, roughly 80,000 people lose their lives to road accidents. this figure makes for the death toll of a large-scale natural disaster. but road accidents can be avoided. in delhi alone, around 12,000 to 15,000 persons are prosecuted or issued notices on a daily basis for violation of traffic rules. is there a solution to this problem? there is nothing such as the ultimate solution. all we can do is sustain our wholehearted efforts. the public needs to be aware of traffic rules and observe road-safety measures with a lot more seriousness.
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