Hearty congrats from railways on that new vehicle
With help from RTO, Western Rly lends personal touch to its campaign for safety at unmanned crossings by posting congratulatory letters attached with precautionary measures to new vehicle owners and licence holders
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Thursday, April 29, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2010042920100429033728778a239e7ad)
Western Railway has joined hands with the Regional Transport Office for the campaign that will educate vehicle drivers about safety at such crossings. Gujarat has 2,261 unmanned level crossings, the highest in India, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 2,538.
The railway has procured details of new vehicle owners and has begun despatching the letters. To begin with, Ahmedabad’s city and rurals areas will be covered. Records of the past six months have been sifted to collect the details, Garud said.
“Several campaigns are on prevent accidents at unmanned crossings through posters, banners, plays and media. This is a new idea,” he said. The railways has taken different approach for school kids in villages around unmanned crossings. Special time tables cards with safety rules on the reverse have been printed in Hindi, English and Gujarati.
“Not just vehicle drivers, but children too need to be educated. These time table cards will be distributed in schools of villages that lie near such crossings,” Garud said.
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Thursday, April 29, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2010042920100429033728778a239e7ad)
Bought a new vehicle? Expect to receive a congratulatory note from Indian Railways. Puzzled? All those purchasing new vehicles or acquiring driving licenses will be sent awareness letters by Western Railway in a personalised attempt to promote drivers’ safety at unmanned railway crossings.
Western Railway has joined hands with the Regional Transport Office for the campaign that will educate vehicle drivers about safety at such crossings. Gujarat has 2,261 unmanned level crossings, the highest in India, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 2,538.According to official figures, 2009 saw three accidental deaths at unmanned crossings: two in Gandhidham-Adipur and one in Viramgam. This is the right opportunity to inform drivers about safety under Section 131 of the Motot Vehicle Act, 1988 which requires a driver to pass an unmanned crossing not before following the ‘stop, look around’ rule, said Ahmedabad Divisional Railway Manager Ashok Garud.
The letter reads: “In our continuous endeavours to improve safety at unmanned level crossing gates, we also expect that you possess a valid licence and avoid use of mobile phones, loud music, alcoholic drinks and roll down window glasses for your and fellow drivers’ safety.” For convenience of readers, the letters will be printed in English, Hindi and Gujarati. The railway has procured details of new vehicle owners and has begun despatching the letters. To begin with, Ahmedabad’s city and rurals areas will be covered. Records of the past six months have been sifted to collect the details, Garud said.
“Several campaigns are on prevent accidents at unmanned crossings through posters, banners, plays and media. This is a new idea,” he said. The railways has taken different approach for school kids in villages around unmanned crossings. Special time tables cards with safety rules on the reverse have been printed in Hindi, English and Gujarati.
“Not just vehicle drivers, but children too need to be educated. These time table cards will be distributed in schools of villages that lie near such crossings,” Garud said.
