Road safety month to begin from January 1, says minister Ponnam Prabhakar
Hyderabad: Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Tuesday urged citizens to actively participate in the road safety month programmes scheduled across Telangana from January 1 to 31.
He said the Transport Department would organise awareness activities in all districts, mandals and villages during the month. According to him, collective participation would play a key role in reducing road accidents and fatalities.
Citing official statistics, the Minister said road accidents continued to cause a large number of deaths every year. Therefore, he stressed the need for citizens to strictly follow traffic rules and adopt responsible driving behaviour.
Addressing students, Ponnam Prabhakar appealed to them to take a pledge along with their parents to follow road safety norms. He also asked schools to ensure that every student joins a road safety club to promote awareness from an early age.
The Minister urged motorists to follow Transport Department guidelines without exception. He said two-wheeler riders must wear helmets and avoid drunk driving. He also warned against wrong-route travel and overspeeding, which often lead to fatal accidents.
Road safety programmes planned across Telangana
During January, the Transport Department will conduct awareness drives, pledge-taking events and outreach programmes at schools, colleges and public places. These activities aim to educate people about safe driving practices and pedestrian safety.
Ponnam Prabhakar said road safety required cooperation from every section of society. He explained that enforcement alone could not prevent accidents unless road users changed their behaviour.
He called upon parents to lead by example by following traffic rules and ensuring that minors do not operate vehicles. He also advised motorists to remain cautious during night travel and festive celebrations.
The Minister said the success of the campaign depended on public involvement. He urged public representatives, officials, students and citizens to actively participate and help make Telangana’s roads safer.
