The Two day international workshop on ‘Dangers in Road Usage’ being organised by the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) and the Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, in partnership with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), Government of India begins.
Eminent road safety experts attending the Two day workshop stressed on need for shared responsibility for reducing fatal road accidents and road safety .
“The United Nations conventions on road safety should be adhered and all road crashes should be investigated on scientific factors instead of making driver responsible for each crash . The responsibility of road safety should be shared by improving road engineering and safety in vehicles “ said Dr Jeffery Micheal , former associate highway transport safety administration in U S A while speaking at inaugural session.
“In most fatal accidents the focus of investigation should be what caused the accident not who caused it to reduce road accident deaths. United Kingdom has been able to reduce accidents by 30% in last one decade despite 400% increase in number of vehicles. Both enforcement and improving road engineering worked “ said Mr Micheal Fell, crash investigation and enforcement , UK
“ In India traffic safety and enforcement is not given priority the main reason for world’s largest accidents taking place in India . This country needs better traffic management “ he added
“Accidents are an international act and should be treated as murder . Changing driving behaviour and better enforcement can do the needful “ said Mr Stephen K Talpins chief state attorney Miami Florida
” About 200 Police official’s, legal officers, and prosecutors from various parts of India, USA, UK, The Netherlands & Finland are taking part in the Two day international workshop with the main aim of the Workshop is to improve road safety by clearly recognising and defining accident causation in relation to drivers and other road users, vehicles, road infrastructure and identifying issues in the existing Codes of Practice. This would help law enforcement agencies and judiciary in building a safe road environment in the country and enhance road safety. Case studies along with the associated legal instruments from India and other countries will be presented towards achieving the objective of enhancing road safety” said Dr Rohit Baluja, President, Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) .
“The Workshop aims to improve road safety by clearly identifying ‘dangerous factors’ and defining them in relation to drivers, other road users, vehicles, road infrastructure and even the existing legislation and codes of practice. Such clear explanations would help law enforcement agencies as well as the judiciary towards catalyzing the process of improving road safety in the country. Case studies along with the associated legal instruments from India and other countries will be presented towards achieving the objective of enhancing road safety.” Said Dr Baluja.
“During the Workshop, a special session is being organised to address the interaction between drivers of taxis and school buses who have received training under this initiative, and the participants of the Workshop. Such an interaction would help the decision makers in fine-tuning the recommendations of the Workshop. The Workshop is a continuing effort of the “Safer Roads Safer You” initiative of the IRTE and Goodyear India Ltd “ said Dr Baluja.
“Major highlight of the workshop will be inauguration of a Road Safety Court of Justice by Dr Kiran Bedi, Governor of Pondicherry by video conference . This Court Room has been constructed at IRTE’s College of Traffic Management as an infrastructure for the training of Judicial Officers and Prosecutors. ‘ added Dr Baluja
Some of eminent experts attending the Two day workshop include Mr. Manoj Yadava Director General of Police Haryana, Dr. Arun Mohan Senior Advocate Supreme Court, Leena Nandan, IAS ,Special Secretary , Ministry of Road Transport & Highways,
Mr. Stephen K. Talpins Chief Assistant State Attorney, Miami-Dade County (Florida), USA Finland Police: Mr. Jyrki Happala, Inspector of Police, Mr. Vinay Kargaonkar- Additional Director General of Police (Traffic),Maharashtra, Mumbai, Mr. Michael Fell, Crash Investigation and Enforcement Specialist, UK and Mr. M.S Upadhye IPS (Retd.),Chief Security Commissioner (DMRC) and Former Addl. Comm. of Police (Traffic), Delhi.
