Deaths in road accidents

Six persons including three members of a family and two members of another family were killed in two separate road accidents in Jammu region on Sunday. Several others were also injured in the mishaps. This year also a number of families lost several of their members in accidents both in  Kashmir and Jammu regions. There is no end to road accidents and subsequent deaths and injuries. In fact the number of mishaps is on the rise. This is happening despite the concern being expressed over the rise in the accidents and stress being laid on preventing and minimising such mishaps. Most of the accidents occur due to violation of traffic and road safety rules by the drivers. The violations include over-speeding, rash driving, driving on wrong side, and wrong over taking. However, some times the bad condition of roads also causes accidents in hilly and mishap prone areas. The traffic police department launches drives to take action against those violating the rules. Awareness campaigns are also being held to sensitise people about road safety rules and persuade them to follow the rules.

But such steps are proving inadequate to put an end to the accidents or reduce their number. The measures can prove fruitful if the drivers strictly start following the rules and do not indulge into acts that cause accidents. The responsibility to prevent road accident also lies on the families. The heads of the families have to themselves drive safely and motivate others in their families not to violate rules. The beginning in this direction must be made at the family levels. If families intervene there can be a positive change. If they continue to act as silent spectators then  reports of road accidents and deaths will continue to pour in. By violating traffic norms, the drivers not only endanger their lives but also that of others on the roads. It is the responsibility of the person on the wheel to protect his life as also those in his vehicle and also those in other vehicles or the pedestrians crossing the roads. The authorities must pay attention towards the bad condition of roads. Necessary repairs must be made to improve the condition. The repair work has to be started immediately on the accident prone roads.