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NEWSLETTER Jan-Feb 2014 INDIA CHAPTER Volume - I Issue - 1 It is Time for Action. Make Roads Safe! NEWS IN BRIEF FROM FOUNDER CHAIRMAN’S DESK 25th National Road Safety Week was observed all over the country Dear Friends, cogent transference of information about our between 11th to 17th January 2014. efforts to all stakeholders of the sector. It is G r e e t i n g s f r o m therefore with great pleasure that we have Campaign of fixing conspicuity International Road launched this Newsletter, which I hope will tapes on bicycles has been initiated Federation, India bring our activities and efforts to notice and by International Road Federation, Chapter and all good will infect you with the very passion that we India Chapter (IRF IC) with the wishes for a very feel. support of Union Ministry of Road happy and healthy T r a n s p o r t a n d H i g h w a y s 2014! Among our many initiatives, I would like to (MoRT&H) and Delhi Traffic Police draw your attention to the Bicycle Conspicuity (DTP) in the city of Delhi. Given the urgent need to transform India's Campaign, which features here and is a recent track record of having the highest number of initiative of IRF IC that will have long 6th India Roads Conference road accidents in the world, which translates reaching effects on a vulnerable segment of organised by ASAPP Media into a colossal national economic loss, Road road users. Although presently limited to Information Group will be held on 5th March 2014 in Delhi. Safety is a cause that I have been passionately Delhi, we are soon hoping to take this to other devoted to, a cause which is at the core of this cities and metropolitan areas. I hope that all of Joint SARF-IRF Regional organisation's genesis and activities. We have you will participate in this initiative in good Conference will be held in Pretoria, sought to pursue this agenda on all fronts and measure and in every way you can. South Africa in September 2014. in all fora and achieved a fair degree of success with the help, support and enormous goodwill I invite you to share with us your own IRF Partners with Fleet Forum - of our member base. initiatives and successes, views and International Road Federation - experiences, which we can include in future Geneva Programme Centre (IRF Although we have been apprising our Issues. G P C ) h a s e n t e r e d i n t o a members regularly about our activities Memorandum of Understanding through our website and e-mailers, we have Warm Regards, (MoU) with Fleet Forum to conduct long felt the need for more cohesive and K.K. Kapila training courses and workshops on fleet management. IRF’s Mission 25TH NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY WEEK To promote the (11th - 17th JANUARY 2014) development of roads and road networks that enable sustainable access and The 25th National Road Safety Week, which is mobility for all aimed at giving all road stakeholders an opportunity to take part in concerted action for IRF’s Vision the cause of road safety, was observed by A world of safe, sustainable, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and efficient roads and road from 11th to 17th January 2014. The theme of networks this year's Road Safety Week was “When on road, always say Pehle Aap”. IRF’s Values Commitment to safe, smart All States and stakeholders were asked to & sustainable roads organise a March and involve all concerned newspapers and awarding prizes to the best agencies like Police, Health, Information and entries; v) Release of advertisements & Publicity, Education, PWI and field agencies messages on Road Safety from various like the Transport Authorities, Distribution EDITORIAL BOARD dignitaries in daily Newspapers; vi) Public Authorities and Voluntary Organizations. announcement on road safety at important Other activities suggested were: i) Special Chief Executive Officer intersections using mobile vans; vii) Display Veena Nabar messages from Chief Ministers; ii) Holding of of Banners, Road Signs, Do’s and Don'ts meetings on Road Safety to be attended by regarding Road Safety at important Advisor Senior Officials of concerned departments and S.K. Khetarpal locations/Traffic Junctions; viii) Organization public representatives; iii) Panel discussions of exhibitions, seminars, lectures, screening of Graphic Designer on Road Safety on AIR & Television; iv) Bhawna Behl Inviting entries for slogans on Road Safety in ...contd. on page 3 1 MESSAGE BOX CAMPAIGN OF FIXING CONSPICUITY TAPES ON BICYCLES (With the Support of MORT&H and Delhi Traffic Police) Almost 8 to 10 % of road accidents take place on account of cyclists not being visible during Road accident deaths in India number the highest in the night time. International Road Federation has world. Among these, a very vulnerable segment of road taken up a project to provide reflective tapes to users consists of cyclists. 6,824 cyclists are estimated to all cyclists in Delhi. I request all our cyclists in have died in accidents across India in 2011. Many of these the National Capital Region to come forward deaths are attributable to poor visibility of cyclists. Needless and avail this benefit to save themselves from to say, apart from the social trauma caused by these the danger of being hit. fatalities, the economic loss as a result of the loss of valuable lives is great. - Oscar Fernandes Hon’ble Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways I am very happy that International Road Federation has initiated a campaign. This has been done with support from MoRT&H and Delhi Traffic Police. I request cycle owners to bring their bicycles to the camp and get the reflective stickers affixed free of cost. International Road Federation, India Chapter (IRF IC) under the dynamic leadership of its Founder Chairman Mr. K.K. Kapila and Chairman Mr. N.K. Sinha is presently working with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India and the Delhi Traffic Police to - Vijay Chibber appropriately address the cause of the safety of cyclists. The Secretary, Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways IRF IC has initiated an intensive campaign to affix reflective tapes on bicycles to enhance their visibility, in particular during low light / night time. Delhi Traffic Police, with collaboration of The Campaign has been initiated in the city of Delhi, in the International Road Federation and Ministry initial instance, and will be gradually extended to cover of Road Transport and Highways, is running a other metropolitan cities as well as urban areas in a later special campaign to fix reflective tapes on phase. A target of 1 million bicycles to be fixed at zero cost to bicycles at 57 locations. All our cyclists are the end users has been set for the city of Delhi and will be requested to come to the special camp and taken up at 57 locations in five phases. The locations have have reflective tapes fixed on their cycles to been identified by Delhi Traffic Police, based on the bicycle save themselves from likely accidents. concentration in different zones. Delhi Traffic Police has provided the manpower support in term of police personnel at these locations to assist the effort. So far, more than 50,000 - Taj Hassan bicycles have been fitted Special Commissioner, Delhi Traffic Police with retro- reflective tapes in the Western Zone of the city. The Campaign has now been further extended to the International Road Federation, with the Eastern Zone and is being support of MoRT&H and Delhi Traffic Police aggressively taken forward. has initiated a campaign for affixing reflective A lot of awareness has been tapes on bicycles. All cyclists are requested to generated among bicycle take advantage of this effort and get reflective users, who are coming forth tapes fixed on their bicycles. in large numbers to have their bicycles fitted with reflective tapes under this unique initiative. - K.K. Kapila Through its efforts, IRF IC and Delhi Traffic Police hope to Chairman, IRF GPC & Founder Chairman, IRF IC drastically bring down the figure of accidental deaths of cyclists to an all time low. Allow life to thrive. Don’t drink and drive. 2 ...25TH NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY WEEK 2014 Mr. Oscar Fernandes and attended by eminent officers of MoRT&H and Delhi Traffic Police including Mr. Vijay Chibber (Secretary, MoRT&H), Mr. Sanjay Bandopadhyay ...contd. from page 1 (Joint Secretary, MoRT&H), Mr. Rajeev Lochan (Director, MoRT&H), Mr. Taj Hassan (Spl. Commissioner, Police, documentary films, etc. in public places; ix) Pamphlets, Traffic). Mr. Aftab Ahmed, Hon’ble Minister of Transport, folders for children, road users and drivers in order to Govt. of Haryana was also present on the occasion. educate them on road safety aspects; x) Medical check-ups Mr. Oscar Fernandes said that all efforts would be directed and eye-sight testing camps and free distribution of at getting the Motor Vehicle Act passed in the forthcoming spectacles to drivers; xi) Proper road marking works on Parliament session. “The Bill (Motor Vehicle Amendment National Highways, State Highways and other major roads; Bill) when cleared and becomes effective will help in xii) Checking of over speeding, over loading, unauthorized strengthening Road Safety Legislation and will play a very parking, drunken driving etc.; xiii) Special training important role in making the country's roads safer as road programmes on traffic rules for school/college students; fatalities are exceptionally high in India.” xiv) Inclusion of traffic rules and road safety matters in school text books; xv) Refresher course for drivers of State Transport Undertakings and for drivers in the unorganized sector; xvi) Traffic training to children who visit the traffic training parks; and xvii) Practical traffic education campaign by Police Departments and Voluntary Agencies, particularly among cyclists and pedestrians.