ROAD SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT
CALCUTTA Calcutta
World Health Day
THE EVENT
Every year the
World Health Organisation (WHO) hosts an event, usually on April 7 to cele
World Health Day 2004
focuses on road traffic injuries and measures to prevent them. This year the
slogan for the day is “Road Safety is No Accident.” Road safety does not happen
accidentally, but requires deliberate effort by multi-stakeholders to make this
world a safer place to live in.
There is an urgent need to
address issues, such as, speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol,
promoting the use of helmet, seat belts and other restraints, improving the
design of roads and vehicles, enforcing road safety regulations, improving
emergency medical services and other related issues.
In response to this growing
concern about road traffic injuries, the WHO Director General has for the first
time in the history of WHO devoted a WHD specifically to road safety.
Objectives
CUTS Safety Watch took this opportunity to celebrate the day to address
the above issues by raising a healthy debate. The objective of the panel
discussion was to bring together representatives of consumer organisations,
experts on road safety issues, common people, schools and media to discuss in
detail about the road safety scenario.
Participants
Every stakeholder including representatives from Government bodies,
Consumer organisations, Academicians, Media attended the panel discussion.
A BRIEF REPORT
Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS)- Calcutta Resource Centre organised a panel discussion
titled “Road Safety is No Accident” on
Ms. Mita Dutta, CUTS-CRC welcoming the participant mentioned that this year’s theme of World Health Day is road traffic injuries and measures to prevent them. She pointed out that road traffic injury is a major cause, which affects every individual. She gave an alarming figure that road accidents have killed 1.18 million people and injured 20-50 million more all over the world.
Ms. Dutta added that globally according to conservative estimates, the annual cost of road traffic injuries amount to approximately US$20 billion. In low-income and middle-income countries, they cost US$65 billion. It is found that the combined total amount of US$65 billion is more than that which developing countries receive in development aid.
She emphasised on the fact that “safety” is a fundamental right and an essential condition for sustainable development of the society and that the right to safety is important for safe and secure living. She explained the launch of CUTS-Safety Watch programme and its objectives and activities. She added that as a consumer protection organisation, CUTS has been monitoring safety aspects of several consumer issues and writing on them to educate people. The final shape of this activity has been a book “Is it Really Safe?” This will be launch of a campaign that would take forward the initiative to empower consumer organisations and lobby with policy makers. She also mentioned that the book authored by Soumi Home Roy also covered one article on road safety and another article on emergency services of medical institutions in case of accident, which are extremely relevant in today’s context. Finally she briefly mentioned about the Centre’s future initiatives and launch of a bimonthly newsletter that aims to bring in changes by empowering people. She then handed over the floor to Prof. Nabinananda Sen, the moderator.
Prof. Nabinananda Sen requested Mr.
Prabhat Rohatgi, a noted Consumer Activist, to release the book “Is it Really
Safe?” which comprises of 21 articles written on different consumer safety
issues. Mr. Prabhat Rohatgi, an ardent Rotarian for over four decades having
joined the Rotary movement in August 1958, has been closely associated with the
consumer movement in
After releasing the book Mr. Rohatgi said a few words on CUTS’ initiative. Pointing out the problem of food adulteration and other unsafe products and services that the innocent and unaware consumers are consuming, he stressed the need for a strong consumer movement He appreciated CUTS’ effort to publish such a book and expressed his hope that this would be beneficial for the consumers and the consumer organisations.
After being requested by Prof. N. Sen,
Ms. Soumi Home Roy, the author of the book “Is it Really Safe?” said a few
words about her book. She expressed her concern that while writing the book she
has found that
After this, the panelists were invited on the dais by the moderator Prof. N. Sen.
Dr. Jayanta Basu, Journalist, opined that road accident is a sheer
wastage of resources He mentioned that on behalf of a non-government
organisation, he was involved with a study on health condition in slum
population in
Dr. Basu also pointed out that in
Dr. Basu said that earlier CUTS has done some real good work and
suggested that CUTS should look at the fatal accidents and find out reasons why
accidents are happening, who is responsible for the accident. He proposed that
accident data for the last three years could be analysed and accordingly
short-term and long-term strategies could be formed. In this regard he also
mentioned that the impact of audiovisual media is stronger. CUTS can go and meet relatives of the
accident victims and come up with stories. He stressed that CUTS could provide
a platform to formulate the strategy to prevent road accidents in future by
analysing the data of road accidents.
Mr. Ashok Bhattacharya, currently the Controller of Legal Metrology of
Consumer Affairs Dept., Govt. of West Bengal, who had the experience of working
in the Driving Licence Authority, Transport Department from 1993 to 1997,
shared his experiences with the audience. He opined that Road Safety initiative
is a movement, which should involve all relevant stakeholders. He pointed out
the dismal condition of road and traffic management in the districts of
Giving some examples Mr. Bhattacharya showed how one gets a driving
license even without passing the test. At the same time he also gave examples
to show how rigid is the driving teat in developed countries like
He also gave a comparative picture of the road safety scenario in
countries like
He also congratulated CUTS to hold a seminar on this important issue.
Mr. Prabir Basu, the last speaker is a well-known name in consumer
protection. He is a lawyer by training and heads a consumer organisation
“Consumer Unity & Guidance Forum.” Mr. Prabir Basu talked about consumers’
role and responsibilities. He pointed out that road safety depends on pedestrians,
drivers and the traffic department.
He informed the audience that in any developed city, the ideal
proportion of the road is 22 percent. While
He mentioned that the primary causes of road accidents are high speed
and poor condition of roads. He also congratulated Ms. Soumi of CUTS for
covering such issues in her article “How safe are Indian Roads” in the book “Is
it Really Safe?”
He stressed on the fact that one needs to take care of his own while on
the road, irrespective of whether he is a pedestrian or a driver.
Prof. Sen while moderating the discussion, said that lack of awareness is the main problem
in countries like
Prof. Sen also pointed out that road safety is a continuous education,
and every one is a student in that respect. The guardians and the teachers
should teach children about road safety. He also pointed out in case of any
accident; it is not only the victim who suffers, but also the family members of
the victim suffer.
One recommendation that came up from the question answer session was
that CUTS could study the driving licence code from different countries of the
world and formulate a code for
A representative from West Bengal Voluntary Health Association informed
that there has been a proposal to carry the blood group in the driving licence.
This, if implemented properly, would enable to provide medical treatment to
accident victims within the “golden hour” and thus could save a number of lives.
Another participant, Rajat Chaudhri, Southern Initiatives, opined that
drivers should have more concern for the pedestrians. He also pointed out that
a number of fancy equipments are bought from foreign countries like speed
breakers, which are used for some days and then, disappears. Mr. Chaudhuri
opined that there should be a monitoring committee to oversee the matter.
Another
eminent personality, Mr. Sanjay Budhia, Chairman, Eastern Region, Confederation
of Indian Industries (CII), launched a newsletter “BEWARE,” CUTS-Safety Watch
initiative to disseminate information and empower people on different consumer
safety issues.
Appreciating
CUTS’ initiative in the field, Mr. Budhia pointed out that every consumer is
also a producer and thus terms: consumer safety, consumer protection and
consumer rights are important for everyone. He informed the gathering that CII
is actively involved in consumer issues. He concluded his speech by saying that
CII has played a major role in consumer movement and would be playing the same
in the coming days.
Apart from distinguished panellists as mentioned above, the panel
discussion was attended by Mr. P. Bhattacharya, Principal Secretary, dept. of
Consumer Affairs, Govt. of West Bengal.
Programme Agenda