Awareness campaign bends traffic rules

CHENNAI: Pasumai Thayagam, a frontal organisation of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, on Monday conducted a massive awareness campaign to sensitise the public on the increasing number of road accidents in Tamil Nadu. But ironically, the awareness campaign for this social cause was conducted by violating the permission granted to stage the demonstration by the city police, sending the cops into a tizzy.According to a senior police official present at the spot, while permission was given to organise a human chain demonstration on the beach, the demonstrators led by party members of the PMK, assembled on the roadside opposite to the DGP office, gathered beneath the Gandhi statue and refused to budge in spite of repeated requests from the policemen. The police tried negotiating with the party members for close to fifteen minutes but in vain. “As we are doing this for a social cause, it is okay to slightly bend the rules,” one of the party workers was heard saying. With the presence of a large number of school children on the scene, the police refrained from hard talk and gave in. Ironically, again, the entire awareness campaign on road safety started to choke traffic on the stretch for several minutes, till the police asked them to wind up the road show quickly.Arriving at the spot right after the police agreed to allow the demonstration, former Union Health Minister and PMK leader, Anbumani Ramadoss, inaugurated the event and said that the programme was being conducted to commemorate the 17th birth anniversary of Pasumai Thayagam.“ According to World Health Organisation statistics, the highest number of road accidents in the world occur in India and the highest number of accidents in India, occur in Tamil Nadu,” said Anbumani speaking to the media. He requested the Chief Minister to look into the issue and form a separate expert committee to solve the issue. “Simple steps can greatly reduce the number of accidents in Tamil Nadu. For instance, 40 per cent of road accidents happen because people drink and drive, which has to be stopped. Police need to ensure compulsory usage of seatbelts and helmets. The government on its part needs to expand the service of 108 Ambulance and modernise the emergency care units in government Hospitals to cope with the rising number of accidents”, he said.According to statistics presented by Anbumani Ramadoss, about 13,000 victims died in the year 2009 due to road accidents and the figure rose to 15,000 in 2010. “Most of these victims are between the age group of 15 and 29 years. Hence, we need to spread awareness among the youth on road safety”. The event, however, seemed to be more promotional than an awareness campaign, conducted without proper prior permission from authorities.