Hyderabad: Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar launched the Road safety month on Thursday with the aim of reducing road accidents and deaths across the state.
The minister inaugurated the month-long programme at the Transport Department office in Khairatabad. From January 1 to January 31, the Road safety month will involve public representatives, officials and students across Telangana.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Ponnam Prabhakar said the state reports around 26,000 road accidents every year. These incidents result in nearly 8,000 deaths annually. On average, 22 people lose their lives every day on state roads.
To underline safety awareness, the minister personally placed helmets on officials during the event. He also released road safety posters, vehicle stickers and student awareness booklets. Additionally, authorities pasted safety posters on autos and organised student placard rallies.
Road safety month targets students, enforcement and RTC safety
During the Road safety month, the minister directed transport officials to visit every school. Through these visits, officials will educate students on traffic rules and road discipline. Moreover, authorities will collect written undertakings from students and parents, pledging compliance with safety norms.
According to officials, overspeeding remains the leading cause of road accidents. Drunk driving, wrong-route driving and mobile phone use also contribute heavily. Therefore, the minister said saving even one life would make the campaign meaningful. This year, the programme follows the slogan “Sadak Suraksha, Jeevan Suraksha” through four pillars — education, engineering, enforcement and emergency response.
Meanwhile, the minister instructed officials to identify accident-prone black spots and remove them quickly during the Road safety month. He clarified that road safety is not the responsibility of the Transport Department alone. Hence, district collectors, police, R&B and education officials were asked to coordinate month-long activities.
Ponnam Prabhakar noted that nearly 1,000 transport officials monitor about 1.8 crore vehicles in the state. As a result, he urged citizens to follow self-discipline. He also warned that authorities are suspending licences for violations. Furthermore, he asked officials to fast-track traffic children’s awareness parks.
At RTC Kala Bhavan, the minister inaugurated a parallel Road safety month programme. He felicitated drivers who completed over 30 years of service without a single accident. RTC operates nearly 10,000 buses with about 20,000 drivers and carries 60 lakh passengers daily, covering 39 lakh kilometres.
The minister assured support for resolving RTC staff issues. Moreover, he expressed confidence that RTC would clear old dues and move into profits by 2026. He also urged the corporation to work firmly towards a zero-accident goal.
Special Chief Secretary Vikas Raj stressed regular vehicle fitness inspections and the use of modern technology for commercial vehicles. Similarly, he called for periodic training and medical tests for heavy vehicle drivers. RTC Managing Director Nagi Reddy said RTC records 0.07 accidents per one lakh kilometres, with about 600 accidents annually.
