RTO plans Road Safety Week

MADURAI: With road safety week being observed from January 1 to 7, the Regional Transport Office, Madurai, has planned a weeklong celebrations in the city to sensitise the public about the importance of following traffic rules.
Regional Transport Officer, North, Ravichandran told TOI that the department has come out with a weeklong schedule of events which start with issuing of awareness pamphlets to the public at strategic places in Madurai on Sunday.An awareness meeting for students about their role in road safety has been arranged at Thiagarajar College on Monday. On Tuesday, an eye-camp for all drivers including private bus drivers, auto rickshaw drivers and two-wheeler riders has been arranged at Mattuthavani bus stand. A mass rally from South Masi junction to Railway junction has been planned on Wednesday during which a cycle rally will also be undertaken to sensitise the public not to use vehicles every time but use cycles for short distances which is eco-friendly.
The next day, a blood donation camp has been organised at North RTO office where interested drivers and public coming to the office can donate blood. To insist upon eco-friendly driving, free emission checks will be held for two-wheelers near Thevar statue on Friday. On Saturday, a mass vehicle rally consisting of two wheelers and four wheelers will be held where two and four wheeler dealers, driving schools and public will participate. It will start from Mattuthavani bus stand and reach South RTO office in Palanganatham through Periyar bus stand. During the rally, the importance of helmet and safety belts will be stressed, Ravichandran said. The valedictory function will be held on the same day at TNSTC bus depot at K Pudur, which will be presided over by police commissioner P Kannappan, he said. RTO offices of North, South and Central, Police, TNSTC, Madurai division, hospitals, colleges and schools will participate in this weeklong events, Ravichandran said.
From the district administration side, district collector, U Sagayam has undertaken weeklong vehicle check up from 10 pm to 1 am. According to the press statement, the drive was taken to ensure proper driving. During the vehicle check undertaken by the collector, Rs 26,250 totalling fines was realised from erratic drivers. The vehicle check up will continue throughout the road safety week, the statement observed. According to official sources, the district collector has formed 12 teams consisting of five members each who will be carrying out the vehicle check up. District Administration has also planned weeklong awareness meetings for school and college students, they said.