Debate on Road Safety: Good morning, respected jury members, respected teachers, my worthy opponents and my dear friends.
Today we assembled here to share our views on a very important and most discussed topic ‘Road Safety through the debate on road safety. This topic always holds a special reason for discussion. I________ is privileged to get the opportunity to share my opinions in front of such a knowledgeable audience. Surely I’ll speak in favor of the motion.
From early childhood, we are taught in schools about the safety rules to be followed while we are on the road. School children are taught about road safety in various innovative ways so that they can understand the concept of road safety from early childhood. This initiative is not only taken at school but at home as well. The main idea behind it is the awareness about road safety from childhood so the mistakes are not made on the road.
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In this debate on road safety, we will focus on the fact that road safety is one of the prime concerns not only for the individual but also for the government of a country. It’s a safety and health issue which needs utmost care. If we carefully survey the data then we can understand the grave situation due to the lack of road safety measures all around the world.
Before going deep into the analysis on road safety, I would like to draw your attention to a report which says that India has the highest number of road crash deaths and injuries. It has 53 road accidents every hour and which leads to the death of 1 person every 4 minutes on average. This fact immediately points out the fact that road safety is so important. With an increasing number of vehicles on the road day by day, it has become a crucial area that needs more focus and appropriate actions.
So now we see in this debate on road safety that In today’s scenario, road transport has become an integral part of daily human life. A large mass of people are road users in one shape or the other. Some use roads as on-footers whereas some are using vehicles to move on roads. It is for sure that the transport system has minimized the distances between places but on the other hand, increased the life risk of road users. Every year road accidents result in loss of lives and serious injuries to people. In India itself, about eighty thousand people are killed in road accidents every year. We can say in most accident cases, the driver of the vehicle plays an important role. But the careless act of pedestrians also causes road accidents in many cases. In general, road accidents occur due to lack of awareness of the road user. Hence, knowledge of road safety is as essential as any other basic skills of survival.
The main objective should be to provide adequate road safety information to current and prospective road users and encourage them to follow the behavior while on road. It is a matter of serious concern to see the growth in road accidents, injuries, and fatalities in recent years. It indicates that road accidents have now become a major public safety issue. Road safety involves roads, motor vehicles, and also people on the road. So road safety needs to be addressed from an overall perspective. We must agree that ensuring road safety is a joint responsibility of the government and the common people.
If we look into the actions on part of the government or administration, several steps are being taken to achieve a significant improvement in road safety. First of all, efforts are made to promote awareness about the social and economic implications of road accidents and what needs to be done to reduce them. Besides, the government must ensure safety in planning, design, and construction of roads in populated urban areas. The safety features in the vehicles must be incorporated from the stage of design, manufacture, operation, and maintenance. There is a serious need to strengthen and improve the enforcement process to avoid the bypass of road safety rules.
But a major part of the responsibility has to be borne by people using the road for movement and transport. We have to realize the implications of road accidents and the losses associated with them, which are immediate as well as long-term. It causes injuries, permanent disability, and even death. One small mistake or bypass of safety measures can lead to a menace in our lives. It becomes extremely necessary to create awareness among the population through education, training, and public campaigns. So road safety knowledge is a must for every educational program from school to college.
In today’s fast life, there is a tendency to follow short-cut methods to save time and effort. But we must remember life is more precious than time. Most road accidents happen due to over-speeding, overtaking, and ignoring traffic rules. In some parts of our country, people think driving on the wrong side of the road is not a big deal and saves time. But in doing so, they put their own life at risk as well as others on the road. Another issue which is of genuine concern is the young group of people who drive vehicles casually and recklessly, seeming it as fun or entertainment. It is obvious enough that they have a bigger chance of facing the fatal effects of an accident which can ruin their lives along with their families.
Till now I was mostly discussing the persons behind the wheels or on a ride. They are the major reasons behind road accidents. But the role of persons walking on the roads can’t be ignored. Their negligence and careless attitude sometimes lead to accidents for which the vehicle drivers are not responsible. There are certain rules of on-footers also which need to be followed strictly. Most of the time the drivers are held responsible for any accident but mistakes of pedestrians are often overlooked.
We have to keep in mind that maintaining road safety is the duty of everyone. We have to feel the importance of road safety for our benefit, not just for the sake of following certain rules. The government may take some strict measures so that people follow safety measures like the use of seat belts and helmets etc. But the law can’t enforce everything if people are not conscious about their safety. So, my dear friends, it’s time to take a pledge to follow safety on the road and ensure a better life for us and our near and dear ones.
FAQ’s on Debate on Road Safety
Question 1.
What action by the Government of India tries to strengthen road safety?
Answer:
The Government of India amended the Motor Vehicle Act in 2019, introducing stringent penalties for traffic violations.
Question 2.
What are the basic safety rules for drivers on-road?
Answer:
Some of the basic safety rules are: Don’t drink and drive, Always wear seat belts, Never break red signals, Drive within the speed limit, keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.
Question 3.
What are some basic safety rules for pedestrians?
Answer:
The basic safety rules for pedestrians include, always cross the road at the zebra crossing, always use the footpath, and Follow Traffic signals.
Question 4.
What was National Road Safety Month observed in India?
Answer:
The road safety month was observed for the first time in January 2021.
Question 5.
What are the road accident statistics in India?
Answer:
In India, about eighty thousand people are killed every year in road accidents which is thirteen percent of the total fatality all over the world.