1) Over 1.2 million people die in road accidents worldwide every year, costing 3-4% of global GDP. One child dies every 3 minutes in a traffic accident globally. 2) The annual death toll from traffic accidents, at 1.2 million, is equivalent to 5 tsunamis worth of lives lost each year. 3) Various recommendations are provided to improve road safety culture and reduce accidents, including better driver education, enforcement of traffic rules, infrastructure improvements, and community involvement.

1. TRAFFIC & ROAD
SAFETY
By Rtn V. S. Ravindran
Rotary club of Nanganallur
District 3230

2.  More than 1.2 million people are killed in Road Accidents, worldwide ,
every year. 3 to 4 % of Gross National Product Is lost in Road Accidents.
 One child is killed in Road Accidents, every three minutes in the World.
 Total worldwide death toll of Tsunami in 2004 was about 230,000. But the
annual worldwide death toll of road accidents is 1,200,000!!! i.e. five
Tsunamis are wiping out lives from the world every year in the form of
Road Accidents.
 Total number of annual road accidents deaths is more than the total
population of Mauritius.
Road Accident Statistics

3. Few hundreds are killed by terrorism
every year. Countries are spending
billions and trillions of dollars to fight
terrorism. Thousands of soldiers sacrificed
their lives. Hundreds of innocents were
killed in the war against terrorism.
Now, it is time for war against Road
accidents.

4. What is to be done?

5.  Be a model road user- Learn the rules and follow them conscientiously
even when nobody is watching.
 Educate others- anybody you can influence, your family, your friends or
your colleagues.
 Be active citizens- Your enthusiasm can force even the most lethargic of
systems to move.
 Don’t expect the Government to do it all- The community has
immense resources.
 Always help the accident victim – You must be prepared to undertake
the responsibility of taking the victim to a hospital and waiting for his
family to appear.
 Volunteer as Marshals- If you want to actively participate in traffic
regulation and law enforcement join as a marshal or inform us what you
want to do and how we can help you with it.
 Raise your voice politely to the government authorities
To the public

6.  Keep a constant speed of around 85km/h on highways or motorways and use your
cruise control. At above 90km/h, a 2km/h increase in vehicle speed results in a 2%
increase in fuel consumption.
 Avoid driving in a low gear unless it is necessary. Change down for gradients and
climb smoothly, making the best use of your vehicle’s momentum.
 Keep idling to a minimum when waiting to unload goods. Switching the vehicle on
every time results in a 1% increase in fuel consumption.
 Don’t brake unnecessarily. Use the engine brake first where possible.
 Avoid heavy traffic as it may increase fuel consumption by 2 -10%.
 Plan your journey by choosing alternative routes where the road surfaces are good.
 Use air conditioning and heating only when necessary as these both increase fuel
consumption.
 Avoid carrying unnecessary weight and ensure curtains are fully closed when carrying
open loads.
 Regularly check tyre pressures and fill tyres with nitrogen – every 10psi of under-
inflation increases fuel consumption by 1%.
To all drivers

7.  Summer camps can include traffic rules and regulations in their curriculum
 All school should have sign board and contain all important traffic
symbols, rules and regulations.
 Parent – teacher meeting can include a traffic teaching session so as to
educate parents as to how to educate their children on road safety.
 School curriculum should include traffic safety chapters
 School Buses should be painted with Bright Yellow color.
 A two line traffic slogan in school prayers daily/weekly basis
For ex: “Ask your dad to wear the seatbelt in cars”
“Ask your dad to wear the helmets”
To the Institutions and
teachers

8. Make sure you set a good example:
 where you walk on the pavement
 where and how you cross the road
 how you drive and treat other road users
 wearing your seatbelt for every trip.
To the parents and children

9. Talk to your children about:
 different types of vehicles
 the speed of traffic compared to us humans
 how the faster vehicles travel, the harder it is for them to stop quickly
 the importance of knowing the rules of the road and not to mess about
near traffic - and never play near roads
 wearing a high visibility safety reflector at night, when walking or
cycling. These help young children to be seen more clearly by car
drivers and other road users.
To the parents and children

10. When you take them out, think about, talk about and show them:
Safer crossing places:
 Zebra
 Pelican (Toucan and Puffin - light controlled)
 Footbridges or Subways
Where to cross if there isn't any of the above:
 away from parked cars
 where they can see clearly and be seen
In the car make sure that:
 all passengers wear a seatbelt
 that they get in and out of vehicles on the safer side (furthest away
from the traffic)
 That they don't distract the driver by being noisy or throwing things
around or messing about. Explain that drivers need to concentrate on
the road.
To the parents and children

11.  Medical check up for lorry and auto drivers – during this medical camp
conduct road safety seminars for the participants.
 Provide alcohol testing equipments for the traffic police.
 Traffic quiz should be conducted – the best school should be awarded
individual as well as school trophy
 Paste black dots in all vehicle front light to avoid glare.
 Hand pamphlets and paper insertion printing the traffic rules along with
the rotary details inviting new members
 Effective seminars in schools and colleges
 Prominent road show in the malls
 Invite speakers from IRTE, Federation for Road Safety
 Donate trauma van with medical equipments in accident prone areas.
 Rotarian marathon rally with all interactors and rotaractors
For us - The Rotarians

12. Steps taken by Australia to
educate road safety…
 Melbourne ranks second after Stockholm in road traffic system
 Australian road safety showcase launched in Chennai during March, 2014
 Road safety youth driver awareness program (RYDA) started by Sydney
rotary club district 9680– World’s largest national road safety education
program.
 Street plays – demonstrating mock accident.

13. For your information

15. Remember…
◦ Life's short, don't rush it
◦ It' better late than never.
◦ Chance takers are accident makers.
◦ If you want to stay married, divorce speed.
◦ Hug your kids at home, but belt them in the car!
◦ Normal speed meets every need.
◦ Drive like people out there are trying to kill you,
because they are!
◦ Feel the curves but don't hug them
◦ Watchful eyes get no surprise
◦ Better a minute late than; dead on time

16. THANK YOU
Mobile : +91 98410 23420
You can download this presentation from
www.rotary3230.in/14-15
Best wishes from Rtn V. S. Ravindran