Public Cooperation Key to Safer Roads, Says Transport Commissioner
Srinagar, Sep 30: KNT: Transport Commissioner Jammu and Kashmir Vishesh Paul Mahajan has urged people to strictly follow traffic rules, wear helmets and seat belts and refrain from using mobile phones while driving, saying improvement in the traffic management system depends substantially on public cooperation.
Speaking to the news agency Kashmir News Trust, Mahajan said enforcement alone could not bring lasting improvement unless people changed their behaviour and developed greater civic sense. He appealed to motorists and other road users to avoid traffic violations and comply with prescribed safety measures.
Mahajan said all District Magistrates had been asked to direct petrol pump owners not to dispense fuel to motorists who are found riding without helmets, driving without seat belts or using mobile phones while driving.
“We are dependent on the public. Unless the public mend their ways, we will not succeed,” he said, stressing that road safety ultimately required responsible behaviour by road users.
The Transport Commissioner also underlined the role of parents in promoting responsible driving habits, saying they could play a major role in inculcating traffic discipline and safety awareness among younger road users.
On the fitness and age of vehicles, Mahajan said vehicles that have completed more than 25 years would be seized and would not be allowed to ply on roads. He stressed that vehicles must meet the prescribed fitness requirements before being permitted to operate.
Mahajan said strengthening the traffic system was not solely an enforcement issue and called for greater cooperation from the public to reduce violations and improve road safety across Jammu and Kashmir. [KNT]
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