1 West Bengal - Action Taken Report on Road Safety Initiatives taken by Govt. of West Bengal on Road Safety 1. Safe Drive, Save Live (Campaign on Road Safety) The Government of West Bengal recognizes the grim situation of Road Accident in the State. The Road Accident fatalities have increased by 5.56% in the year 2015 as compared to 2014 further aggravating the situation. The deteriorating conditions of road accidents and deaths have lead the State Government to give an impetus and drive to improve the Road Safety situation across the State. The Honourable Chief Minister has taken up this matter and initiated a campaign across the state named as “Safe Drive, Save Life” to curb road accidents and fatalities. The campaign was launched in a workshop on 8 th of July, 2016 from Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata and fairly represented by the officials and law enforcing agencies of the State Government and Local Self Governments. The program was organized jointly by Transport Department and Police Department. The workshop was attended by five Ministers, MP, MLAs, Chief Secretary, Mayors of Kolkata, Bidhannagar and Asansol, Home Secretary, DG-Police, Principal Secretaries of Transport, Public Works Department, Education, Director of Health (Trauma Care), Police Commissioners of Kolkata, Bidhannagar, Barrackpore, Howrah During the workshop, several initiatives in terms of awareness for road users were highlighted and road safety videos, slogans, jingles were played. Following through the workshop and address by Honourable Chief Minister and Honourable Minister-in- Charge, the key takeaways are as below: 1. No Two-wheeler to ply on two main flyovers after 10:00 in the night where road accidents have increased due to over-speeding. Figure 1- Appeal by Chief Minister on Road Safety Figure 2- Chief Minister addressing the workshop
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1 West Bengal - Action Taken Report on Road Safety
Initiatives taken by Govt. of West Bengal on Road Safety
1. Safe Drive, Save Live (Campaign on Road Safety) The Government of West Bengal recognizes the grim situation of Road Accident in the State. The Road Accident fatalities have increased by 5.56% in the year 2015 as compared to 2014 further aggravating the situation. The deteriorating conditions of road accidents and deaths have lead the State Government to give an impetus and drive to improve the Road Safety situation across the State. The Honourable Chief Minister has taken up this matter and initiated a campaign across the state named as “Safe Drive, Save Life” to curb road accidents and fatalities. The campaign was launched in a workshop on 8th of July, 2016 from Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata and fairly represented by the officials and law enforcing agencies of the State Government and Local Self Governments. The program was organized jointly by Transport Department and Police Department. The workshop was attended by five Ministers, MP, MLAs, Chief Secretary, Mayors of Kolkata, Bidhannagar and Asansol, Home Secretary, DG-Police, Principal Secretaries of Transport, Public Works Department, Education, Director of Health (Trauma Care), Police Commissioners of Kolkata, Bidhannagar, Barrackpore, Howrah During the workshop, several initiatives in terms of awareness for road users were highlighted and road safety videos, slogans, jingles were played. Following through the workshop and address by Honourable Chief Minister and Honourable Minister-in-Charge, the key takeaways are as below:
1. No Two-wheeler to ply on two main flyovers after 10:00 in the night where road accidents have increased due to over-speeding.
Figure 1- Appeal by Chief Minister on Road Safety
Figure 2- Chief Minister addressing the workshop
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2. “Safe Drive, Save Live” campaign to be carried out across the State as a movement and just not as campaign. This should be made compulsory in the syllabus in schools.
3. Sports Department to organize “Walk for Road Safety” from August, 2016
4. Road Safety Programme to be undertaken in each district & sub-division.
5. Folk songs on Road Safety campaign on NHs & SHs to be organized by the Information & Cultural Affairs Department
6. Theme song on Road Safety prepared to be played in all events and programmes organized by State Govt.
7. Film on Road Safety prepared by the State to be filmed at all theatres across the State
8. Organized actions to be undertaken to prevent overloading of goods vehicles
9. Competitions encouraged across all blocks to prevent road accident. Best performing blocks shall be awarded and under-performing blocks shall be reprimanded.
The workshop concluded with administering oath to all the participants to use the roads sensibly, drive responsibly and ensure safety of everyone on the roads. A motor-bike rally comprising of 100 Traffic Police was also flagged off by the honourable guests.
Figure 3 - Safe Drive, Save Life - Campaign Artwork
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Newspaper Articles of the Workshop
Figure 5- The Statesman (9th July, 2016)
Figure 4 Times of India (9th July, 2016)
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Follow-up actions from the “Safe Drive, Save Life” workshop
• Road Safety message and jingles is being regularly played in various FM Channels
• Banners and Hoardings have been placed across various prominent locations across the state to popularize the Road Safety initiatives.
• Workshops, camps and rallies are being regularly organized around districts and sub-divisions and widely participated by public representatives.
• Police and Transport Department is undertaking rigorous enforcement drive across the state.
2. Workshop on Motor Driving Training Institute
In tune with the State policy on “Safe Drive, Save Life”, Transport Department is going to organize a one day workshop on 1st August, 2016 in Kolkata with all the Motor Driving Training Schools across the State in presence of all the Licensing Authorities to discuss and explore the steps to be taken for better training, stricter testing procedures and producing quality drivers. A copy of letter is attached in Annexure 1. This is to further mention that Transport Department, Govt. of West Bengal have engaged IIT Kharagpur to audit all the Motor Driving Training Schools across the state. IIT Kharagpur shall deliver a presentation on better training of drivers, better infrastructure at the Motor Driving Schools and produce quality drivers.
3. Identification of Black Spots across NHs, SHs & MDRs
As per the 2015 Road Accident Data, the Public Works Department (PWD) and Police have jointly declared 49 black spots across the states and started taking actions to curb accidents across the Black Spots. These Black Spots are spread across the National Highways and State Highways only. The concerned departments have been communicated to comply the same for the MDRs as well.
4. Creation of Road Safety Fund As reported earlier, the proposed “Road Safety Fund Bill, 2016” is under consideration of the newly elected Government.
5. Suspension/Cancellation of Driving Licenses The Police department have been sensitized for taking necessary actions to recommend for suspension/cancellation of the Driving Licenses for certain offences as per law and Licensing Authorities are also directed to take actions as per law. The Police department have also enhanced enforcement activities to
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prosecute the offences like over-speeding, red light jumping, overloading or passenger carrying in goods carriage, drunken driving, use of mobile while driving very seriously.
6. Ban on Sale of Alcohol across NHs and SHs The Nodal Agency has sensitized and communicated to Finance (Excise) Department for compliance on the ban on sale of alcohol across the national highways and state highways. The Finance (Excise) Department is considering the proposed steps to be taken after examining all relevant legal issues. The issue is under examination at the Government level and it is expected that matter will be decided soon.
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