Why is it necessary?
In India, about eighty thousand people are killed in road crashes every year which is thirteen percent of the total fatality all over the world. A man behind the wheel plays an important role in most of the crashes. In most of the cases crashes occurs either due to carelessness or due to lack of road safety awareness of the road user.Hence, road safety education is as essential as any other basic skills of survival.
Since 1990, Road safety week is being observed throughout the country generally in the 1st Week of January each year. It was launched across Assam on 11th January 2014 in order to prevent accidents by generating public awareness.
Target Audience
- Pedestrians
- Bus Passengers
- School Children/Students
- Two-wheeler drivers or Motorcyclists
- Vehicle Drivers
Road Safety Initiatives 
- Orientation Programs and Training
- Subha Yatra: An initiative on road and safety
- Seminar and workshops
- Quiz
- Street plays and Street meetings
- School programs
- Advertisements in print and electronic media
- Rally and health camps
How to be Road Smart?
1. Road Safety Tips for Pedestrians
- Always walk on the footpath. Where there is no footpath try to walk close to the extreme right side of the road so that you can see the oncoming vehicles clearly.
- Crossroads where there are pedestrian crossings. If you don't see any pedestrian crossing around you then watches the road on both sides and cross when it is safe.
- Young children's should not be allowed to walk on the roads alone or play and run in road or road-side. While you walk on roads with your child always hold a hand of your child.
- At night time pedestrians should wear bright or light coloured cloth so that drivers coming from both directions can see you clearly even in poor light conditions.
- Do not walk on the road after consuming alcohol or drugs.
- Use extra caution at the time of crossing multi-lane roads.
- Be extra careful at road intersections. Before crossing roads at such areas take a watch around you for oncoming vehicles.
- While walking in rainy weather, take care that your umbrella does not prevent the view of the oncoming vehicles.
2. Safety Tips for Passengers
- Always maintaining a queue while waiting for a bus. Never stand in the queue in the middle of the road.
- At the time of boarding, a bus does not try to run or chasing the bus. Once you are inside the bus take a seat and hold firmly on the handrail if you are standing.
- Never try to board an overcrowded bus.
- Never try to journey on a footboard of a bus. It could be fatal to you and your life.
- Avoid shouting inside of a bus because your high-pitch noise or talking's may distract the attention of the driver and it could lead to a major road accident
3. Safety Tips for School Children/Students
- While you are on the way to your school walk on the footpath only. If there is no footpath in that particular area or road tries to walk on the extreme right-hand side of the roads.
- Never walk on the roads in a group.
- Do not run or rush on the road.
- Crossroads only at Zebra Crossings, never cross a road at a curb or blind corner.
- If you are going to school by bus, then leave your home well ahead of time so that you need not be in a hurry for catching your school bus.
- When waiting for the school bus always make a queue and stand back from the main road.
- Do not try to board the bus until the bus stops completely.Similarly, do not try to get off the bus while it's running.
- Do not try to fight or shout or play inside the bus.
- Always hold the handrail while you are standing on a moving bus.
4. Safety Tips for the Two-wheeler Drivers and Motorcyclists
- Never try to drive or ride a scooter or motorcycle without wearing a protective headgear or helmet. Many two-wheeler road accidents result in head injury or neck injuries resulting in death
- Use sunglass or sun reflectors to protect your eyes from dust or sun rays
- At night time use bright or reflective clothing. It will enhance your chances of being seen in the dark.
- Never drive a two-wheeler after taking alcohol. It could be fatal to you.
- Obey the traffic rules and regulations
5. Safety Tips for Vehicle Drivers
- Before starting your journey check your vehicle for any mechanical defects.
- Be it the driver or its occupants always wear the seat belts in a proper manner.
- Do not drive at excessive speeds, always keep specified speed limits in mind while driving.
- Never overtake a vehicle at narrow bridges, road corners or at blind spots.
- Keep enough distance between you and the car in front of you.
- During driving never try to consume alcohol.
- Do not use the mobile phone while you are driving.
- If you feel drowsy or tired after a long driving takes a break at a roadside hotel or restaurant and refresh yourself.
- Be careful at railway crossings. As you come to a crossing, slow down your vehicle, listen and look both ways before crossing the track.
- While driving at night time use low beams of your head lights. Use your horns sparingly. Do not use horns near schools, hospitals and courts.
- While driving always be calm. Never try to be aggressive with other road users or drivers.
- Never overload your vehicle with goods or passengers.
- During night time driving, be extra careful of pedestrians, cyclist, rickshaws and cattle's lying middle of the road.
- During bad weather like a heavy storm, fog or rain slow down your vehicle. If you don't see anything well in the dark or through the heavy rain, stop the vehicle at roadside till the weather clear again.
- Avoid road rage because it is nowadays a major cause of road accidents.
