A traffic awareness programme was held at a school in Behala on Tuesday.
Around 350 students of Shaw Public School were told about the basic traffic rules by the officers of the Diamond Harbour traffic guard.
They were sensitised about their rights to safety like being provided a helmet by parents or to travel in a car only if its brakes are operational and documents of the vehicle are in place. The officers also explained to them their duties — always fasten the seatbelt when riding a car and cross the road only through a zebra crossing.
Police officers of the rank of assistant commissioner, inspector and sergeant were present at the event to emphasise the need to follow traffic rules.
A power-point presentation was shown to the students and it was followed by an interactive session.
“The idea was to inculcate a sense of traffic awareness in the students to ensure that they are aware of their rights and duties when they walk on roads or take a ride,” said one of the officers who attended the programme, which was organised with the help of Shishu Darpan Welfare Association.
The officers said although the number of fatalities and road accidents has come down in the city over the last few years, indicating that more motorists and pedestrians are following traffic rules, there are still instances of motorcyclists wearing helmets accompanied by children without the headgear.
“We still find motorcyclists covering their own heads with helmets but not their
children’s. There are so many instances where guardians take their children and
cross the road when the signal is green for vehicles. Now, we want the children to raise their voice and tell their guardians what is right and what is wrong,” said the officer.
The awareness programme came four days after a Class II student of Barisha Uchcha Balika Vidyamandir — Souraneel Sarkar — lost his life in a road accident on Friday when he and his father were crossing Diamond Harbour Road through a stretch away from the zebra crossing to reach the school.
Shaw Public School, a girls’ school, is located less than a kilometre from the spot off Behala Chowrasta where the accident happened.
“Students of Classes VII and VIII attended the programme as they are old enough to understand their duties and talk to their parents about their rights.... The officers encouraged the girls to become crusaders who would go back home and convey to their parents, friends, families and neighbourhood the traffic rules. Till now parents teach their children about the dos and don’ts. But through these girls, the cops wanted the parents to learn from their children,” said Tapashi Sengupta, principal of Shaw Public School.