The State Transport and Road Safety Department convened a meeting on Wednesday with 20 stakeholders, including organizations and experts actively engaged in the field of road safety, to seek their input. Department officials stated that the suggestions received primarily focused on enhancing enforcement measures on roads, with particular emphasis on helmet usage, as the majority of accidents involve two-wheeler riders. Additionally, a significant recommendation highlighted the need for enhancing the engineering design of roads, ensuring the proper placement and visibility of road signs for commuters. Furthermore, stakeholders urged the department to prioritize road safety education initiatives and emergency medical response measures.

"Corrective actions are needed in four main components of road safety education, engineering, enforce- ment and emergency medicine." - said a senior official of the department.

According to officials, ongoing campaigns are actively educating the public about road safety and the crucial "golden hour" for treating road accident victims, emphasizing emergency medical care. Official records indicate a concerning 13% rise in road accidents in the state between 2021 and 2022.

"Most road accidents happen with two-wheelers riders with victims suffering severe injuries because of not wearing helmets. Enforcement campaigns are carried out but due to lack of political will, strictness is lacking. When transport or traffic officials issue challans, people either call up elected representatives or directly call higher authorities. Strict enfor- cement can help save many lives," said the senior official.