Mangaluru: Strict adherence to traffic rules without violations can significantly help in preventing road accidents, senior civil judge and member secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, Zaibunnisa, said on Monday. She was speaking after inaugurating the 37th National Road Safety Month programme, organised jointly by the district administration, District Legal Services Authority, transport department and police department at the RTO auditorium.

Zaibunnisa emphasised the need to create greater public awareness on road safety and urged citizens to actively cooperate in accident prevention by strictly following traffic regulations. She noted that road safety is a shared responsibility and that compliance with rules can save countless lives.

Growing concern over road accident fatalities

Referring to recent trends, Zaibunnisa said many people in the State have lost their lives in road accidents in recent times. She observed that a majority of these fatalities could have been avoided if traffic rules had been followed diligently. “Following traffic rules is the only effective way to safeguard lives on the road,” she said.

She stressed that road accidents not only cause loss of life but also lead to long-term physical, emotional and financial distress for families. According to her, preventing accidents should be treated as a social priority rather than merely a legal obligation.

Need for legal and road safety awareness

Highlighting the importance of education and awareness, Zaibunnisa said there is a serious lack of legal awareness, particularly among the youth. She pointed out that young motorists often underestimate the consequences of violating traffic rules and tend to ignore safety norms.

“There is a need to provide comprehensive information on road safety, traffic laws and the legal consequences of violations. Awareness programmes must reach schools, colleges and workplaces to bring about a behavioural change,” she said.

She added that legal literacy plays a crucial role in ensuring responsible road behaviour and helps people understand that traffic rules exist to protect lives, not to penalise citizens.

Major causes of road accidents

Zaibunnisa identified over-speeding, drunken driving, rash driving and negligent driving as the major causes of road accidents. She said these factors are often the result of indiscipline and lack of concern for personal and public safety.

She urged drivers and riders to avoid risky behaviour, respect speed limits, wear helmets and seat belts, and refrain from using mobile phones while driving. Pedestrians were also advised to follow road rules and use designated crossings to ensure their safety.

Officials underline coordinated efforts

Senior Regional Transport Officer Muragendra Basavraj Shirolkar presided over the programme and spoke on the importance of coordinated efforts between various departments to reduce road accidents. He said enforcement, education and engineering must go hand in hand to achieve meaningful results in road safety.

Shirolkar noted that the transport department is continuously working on awareness campaigns, enforcement drives and driver education programmes as part of the National Road Safety Month.

Police stress enforcement and public cooperation

ACP, Traffic Sub-Division, Najma Farooqi and other officials were present on the occasion. Speakers highlighted the role of the police in enforcing traffic rules and appealed to the public to cooperate with authorities.

They said strict enforcement alone cannot bring lasting change unless supported by responsible behaviour from road users. Public participation, they added, is essential to achieving the goal of safer roads.

Conclusion

The speakers collectively stressed that road safety is a continuous process that requires sustained awareness, strict enforcement and active public involvement. Observing National Road Safety Month, they called upon citizens to pledge adherence to traffic rules and contribute to reducing road accidents and fatalities.