Talk on Road Safety – an Open Speech
As chairperson of the school’s organizing committee, you have been asked to give a talk to other students on road safety. Boys and girls, very good morning to you. In conjunction with ‘Road Safety Week,’ I wish to give a talk on why road accidents occur and the ways to reduce them.
Road safety is something important that has to be followed at all times to ensure the safety of the operators of a vehicle, passengers, and pedestrians. News about road accidents and road accident fatalities always appear in printed and electronic media. In many cases, schoolchildren are the victims. It is for this reason that our school has decided to launch a ‘Road Safety Week’ campaign with the aim of raising awareness among the students on the need to be more responsible and cautious while on the road. Traffic rules and guidelines have to be set in place and strictly followed so that serious accidents and injuries can be averted.
Why do road accidents occur? According to police statistics, much of the carnage on the roads could have been avoided if road users had exercised patience and caution. Instead, drivers tend to speed, drive recklessly, and race on the roads. Motorists are responsible for various other misdemeanors such as weaving in and out of traffic and not paying heed to road conditions. The measures and methods taken to establish road safety include the use of various road safety products. Sometimes road conditions such as the existence of potholes can cause accidents. Another major cause of accidents is the poor maintenance of vehicles. Vehicles with brakes and lights that do not function properly are potential hazards to other road users. Long-distance public transportation drivers can also cause accidents if they drive for long periods and are tired. These road safety products intimate people about parts of a road they should avoid and accident-prone zones as well as simply organize traffic and vehicles in an orderly manner.
Summonses and penalties are ineffective in curbing road accidents. Stiffer penalties such as increasing fines and suspending driving licenses of offenders should be introduced. If a motorist causes an accident, the authorities should confiscate his driving license and suspend him from driving for a certain period of time. Stricter enforcement of traffic rules by the authorities will reduce the number of accidents.
Everyone should undergo a complete driving course under the guidance of an authorized instructor before starting to drive on the roads. Only roadworthy vehicles should be allowed on the roads. Vehicles that break down often should be taken off the roads. Road safety measures should be added in the school curriculum so that students can get complete knowledge of traffic regulation. There is also a clarion call from many quarters to increase the age limit for new drivers. This is one way of getting young motorists off the roads. Most of the road accidents occur because of incomplete knowledge about operating vehicles and lack of road safety measures.
Traffic accidents are a major cause of deaths in India and it has affected a huge number of families. If we do not want accidents to happen, then it is time we changed our driving and riding attitudes. The use of old vehicles on the road is also a cause of accidents, so it is very important to get the vehicles checked for fitness on a regular basis. Motorists must ensure that they are courteous on the road and that their vehicles are roadworthy. Hence it becomes very important that everyone should strictly follow the traffic rules and should always drive safely with respecting the other people and vehicles on the road. There should be more awareness campaigns aimed at inculcating good driving habits, especially among schoolchildren.
When road users ensure their vehicles are roadworthy, respect the law and think about their safety as well as that of others, then the number of fatalities can be reduced. We should avoid rash driving, drunken driving, and jumping red lights. A unison effort from each and everyone could definitely reduce the number of accidents and make our roads safer.
Thank you.
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