By Khalid Mustafa
TRAFFIC Police City Srinagar recently inaugurated the National Traffic Month which will be observed for one month from 18th Feb 2021. This is the first time that it will be observed. Every year we witness thousands of deaths due to road accidents and challan for not obeying traffic rules and regulations. However, is the month enough to educate people regarding traffic measures?
Traffic police and various NGOs always remain on the front foot to launch various educational events for traffic management but now it’s our turn to take this in a positive manner and implement it in our daily routine.
As digital strides are taking over the world, traffic management must incorporate new technology to better handle traffic safety.
Surveillance cameras are good but we should think beyond these and must take the aid of Artificial intelligence, road sensors, remotely accessible traffic lights to manage traffic mess. Google has already provided us with free Google Maps software and other web applications which can be used by drivers to look for available routes to travel and get instant knowledge about congestion in traffic and can avoid such routes.
In recent times, HSRP (High Security Registration Plates) were introduced in vehicles and they are executable only when we use proper technological measures like roadside speed limit sensors, Artificial intelligence road traffic load graphs, online Challan executions, over speed alarm systems etc.
A small portion of the amount which we utilize on road developments, road encroachment can be used to form smart traffic management which will ease the burden off of both the public and our traffic officials. Implementation of such smart traffic systems will overcome various other issues and also offer safe and punctual public transportation. This can be done by speed sensors to warn commuters for over speed violation, GPS Systems for any medical and accidental emergency, tracing overloading of vehicles and much more.
Some of the smart traffic monitoring has already been incorporated in apps like mParihavan to provide real time validity and information of vehicles in which the drivers can keep digital form of documentations of their vehicles. FASTag’s is another achievement in technology to provide commuters ease of paying toll taxes online; online DL issuance, Registrations are already being enforced. But a lot more needs to be done.
Even as progress and improvement takes time, our traffic police department is leading by example. A way to acknowledge their work would be by following traffic norms. Recently Traffic Police J&K came up with various awareness programmes like Ahtiyat (Sadak Surakhsha), A Walkathon etc to make people much more aware about the rules and regulations of traffic. Laws are never against us, they are created to make us live freely and comfortably in society and the world. We should obey these laws for ourselves and should leave no stone unturned as we’re being constantly educated and enlightened about traffic rules and norms.
We can’t always put the blame for every mishap on the authorities. We need to do our bit as well. Instead of encouraging minor driving, overloading – we should encourage carpooling, avoid unnecessarily driving inside congested public areas, encourage wearing seat belts, helmets, report rash and drunk driving to the nearest police station and on emergency helplines. We can live safe but we from our own end choose the worse by ignoring the obvious and essential. Life is precious, return home to your families.
- The Author is a Management & IT Expert. Presently IT-Operations Manager @HK Group. Feedback [email protected]
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