Bhumesh Sharma
People around the State are greeting their love ones on New Year and are distributing gifts and sweets even the Administration is busy in observing the first week of New Year as the Road Safety Week, but no one remembers those killed in road accidents. The aim of Day of Remembrance for Traffic victims is to offer solidarity and friendship to our fellow bereaved, draw attention to the devastation caused by road danger and call for an end to this carnage in the State. Road victims like other victims also need a special day, when they feel that they are not alone and that their suffering is considered by the community.
Nearly every day a serious road traffic crash in our State makes banner headlines. For every such news event, many other road traffic crashes-both fatal and non-fatal go unreported because they have become such “routine” events. Over 1300 people died in our State of J&K in Road Traffic Crashes last year and these deaths only make headlines in news papers. As the State is on the fast-track of growing economy and the rising toll is a reminder that the government still struggles to keep its people safe.
Evidence of road accidents seems to be everywhere in the State. Highways and city intersections often glitter with smears of broken windshield and are scattered with unmatched shoes, shorn-off bicycle seats and bits of motorcycle helmet. Tales of rolled-over trucks and speeding buses are a newspaper staple, and it is rare to meet someone in the erstwhile district of Ramban Doda & Kishtwar who has not lost a family member, friend or colleague in road accidents. They will never return home, the sheer size of death toll is staggering. The tragedy is worsened as it is mainly the young and the healthy those in the prime of life and supporting their families, who are killed.
While Road Traffic deaths are counted in the year they occur, a family remains bereaved forever. The bereaved are not counted or included in road traffic injury data. Many others remain deeply affected by the loss of a friend, colleague, neighbour or member of the community. Road Traffic injuries leave behind shattered families and communities. After every serious crash the road is cleared for transportation but what happens to the victims, their families? Again names added to the long list of those affected, destroyed families, people who suffer.
Throughout the world every year the third Sunday in November is observed as World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic victims. Observation of this day provides an opportunity to draw the public’s attention to road traffic crashes, their consequences and costs, and the measures which can be taken to prevent them. We remember all the Road Traffic Victims on this day. The day also provides an opportunity to remind concerned authority and society of their responsibility to make road safer. But in our State of J&K, no such day is being observed. This day is important because lack of information about this catastrophe provokes social indifference.
The number of people killed and injured on the roads represents by far the largest of all human made disasters. The Remembrance Day makes clear to society that this toll is totally unacceptable both in respect of human misery and economic cost; it also offers the opportunity to share the loss with others, which may help in the process of accepting it. It also creates link between all victims. Such a commemoration is very important to families, who need to speak of their tragedy. Close relatives should be given the opportunity to express their grief for the loss of their loved ones and to talk about them. Others are reminded to honour these people by promising to behave correctly on the road in order to prevent future tragedies. Seminars should be organized on the day to present research findings or discuss any issues relating to road traffic injuries-trauma treatment, bereavement support, investigation of crashes, road risks, road safety measures etc. to curb this menace.
Observing this day in our State will also provide comfort to the bereaved who seem forgotten by the justice system, the authorities and modern society, and also to raise awareness of this wholly preventable disaster. “Political support and commitment are necessary not only for developing and implementing National Road Safety Plans, but also for specific events such as the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims”
Efforts should be made to get the support of the government for activities to promote road safety, and a firm commitment to raise the issue of road traffic injuries higher on the political agenda in the State.
Road safety is one of the major issues” in the State and the government is committed for the safety of every individual on the road. Improvement in road safety does not just happen; it requires political commitment in the form of effective laws, strategies, policies and programmes such as observing The Remembrance Day for the traffic victims will help in spreading awareness in general public. Mitigating actions must be included on this day. Services for victims, such as access to relevant information, assistance with legal issue, physical therapies, counselling, provision of wheelchairs or other rehabilitative devices and care giving assistance should be provided on this day to show our solidarity to the bereaved families.. Road traffic crashes are predictable and thus can be prevented.
Many countries have achieved sharp reductions in the number of crashes and casualties by putting in place effective counter measures. Good practices from one country can be adopted or adapted for another country.
By adopting good practices we will minimize the accidents in the State and let us make a resolution on this New Year that this year by observing traffic rules & regulations we will together make our State of J&K, a accident free State and will observe The Remembrance Day to show our solidarity to our bereaved ones.
(The author is KAS officer and can be contacted bhumeshsharma222@gmail.com)
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