AGARTALA, January 11 (TIWN): The observance of 26th ‘Road Safety Week’ began in Tripura on Sunday with campaign to make roads safer and initiate measures for preventing deaths on roads. Transport Minister Manik Dey inaugurated the programme at Swami Vivekananda Stadium in presence of DGP K. Nagaraj and Chief Secretary G. Kameswar Rao. The road safety week will continue till January 17.

 Addressing in the inaugural ceremony Transport Minister Manik Dey appealed for safer drive and stressed on preventive measures to curb the casualties in road accidents. But in reality spiraling road accidents almost on a day-to-day basis continue to claim lives. 

The minister further said that road safety is an ideal opportunity to promote life-saving messages and show our commitment to road safety to all road-users. Many of the factors or road accidents are of road condition, unaware pedestrians, vehicle condition and reckless driving. All round awareness of road safety, mow-a-days, is of utmost importance, Dey mentioned.

Improper management of traffic laws or lack of road safety monitoring in all highways have led to sharp spurt in casualties from road mishaps. After insurgency road accidents have become the biggest killers in Tripura.

During the years (2009-10 and 2010-11) as many as 1748 road accidents took place that killed 453 persons. A total of 2573 persons were injured in the same period. Add to it were 291 persons who were killed in 1015 road accidents in the year 2012, 1382 person more were injured. 

The statistics said, the number of vehicles, which were 58,581 in the year 2001, goes up 66,507 in the year 2002. Gradually the increasing trend for number of vehicles has been continue in the year 2010 it stand 1,60,119 vehicles. But in the year 2011 it abruptly rise to 2, 10,331 vehicles and in the year 2012 it stand at 2, 60,227 vehicles across Tripura.

Minister Manik Dey inaugurating Road Safety Week at Swami Vivekananda Stadium. TIWN Pic Jan 11