Students, parents must pledge to follow road safety rules, says Ponnam Prabhakar

LatestPoliticsTelangana
By HNH Web Desk
Ponnam Prabhakar road safety pledge

Hyderabad: Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Thursday launched Road Safety Month 2026 and said students and their parents must submit written pledges to follow traffic rules. The initiative is part of the state’s strategy to tackle the alarming rise in road accidents and fatalities across Telangana.

Ponnam Prabhakar road safety pledge highlights grim accident data

Launching the campaign at the Transport Department headquarters in Khairatabad, the Minister revealed that Telangana records over 26,000 road accidents and about 8,000 deaths annually. On average, 22 people die every day in road crashes, he said. Urging behavioural change and public cooperation, he called for “collective responsibility” to address the crisis.

As part of the inauguration, the Minister placed helmets on officials, released awareness posters, stickers, and student booklets, and flagged off campaigns with students holding placards. Posters were also displayed on auto-rickshaws to amplify the message across city streets.

Officials listed over-speeding, drunk driving, wrong-side driving, and mobile phone use while driving as the leading causes of accidents. They stressed that even saving one life makes the campaign worthwhile.

Focus on black spots, inter-department coordination

This year’s theme, “Sadak Suraksha – Jeevan Suraksha” (Road Safety is Life Safety), emphasizes the four E’s Education, Engineering, Enforcement, and Emergency care. Ponnam directed transport officials to identify and eliminate all accident-prone ‘black spots’ in the state.

He said road safety must involve more than just the Transport Department. District Collectors, police, R&B, education authorities, and the TSRTC must work together. Moreover, officials will visit schools across the state and gather written safety pledges from parents.

The Minister noted that the department has only 1,000 officials to manage 1.8 crore vehicles. Hence, public self-discipline is essential. He warned that driving licences will be suspended for violations. He also instructed that ‘Traffic Children Awareness Parks’ be developed without delay.

Zero-accident target for RTC by 2026

At RTC Kala Bhavan, the Minister honoured RTC drivers who completed 30 years of accident-free service. He praised the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) for its vast operations—10,000 buses, 20,000 drivers, 60 lakh passengers daily, and 39 lakh kilometres covered. He expressed confidence that RTC would clear its debts and become profitable by the end of 2026, with a “zero RTC accidents” goal in place.

Special Chief Secretary Vikas Raj urged districts to replicate Medak’s success in eliminating 100 black spots within a year. He also recommended advanced tech to monitor commercial vehicles, routine driver training, and periodic medical check-ups.

RTC data shows steady safety efforts

RTC Managing Director Sajjanar reported that the corporation averages 0.07 accidents per lakh kilometres, or roughly 600 per year. He credited safety measures like breathalyzer tests, vehicle fitness checks, and mandatory health screenings. The corporation spends ₹80 crore annually on accident insurance, he added, noting the lasting hardships faced by affected families.

Transport Commissioner Ilambarthi, Joint Transport Commissioners Chandrasekhar Goud, Ramesh, and Shivalingaiah, Deputy Commissioners, and RTA members also participated in the statewide launch.

 

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