Wokha deliberates on road safety measures

[caption id="attachment_141525" align="aligncenter" width="565"] (Inset) T Nchumbemo Odyuo, Additional Deputy Commissioner Bhandari seen speaking on road safety awareness. Also seen in the picture are participants taking a pledge on road safety.[/caption] Wokha, Sep. 27 (EMN): With increasing reports of road accidents claiming precious lives on daily basis partly due to reckless driving, vehicle users and public are advised to be more cautious as vehicles were made more sophisticated with the advanced technology making it more prone to accident compounded by bad road conditions in the State. This concern was highlighted at the road safety awareness programme, organised by the Motor Vehicles Department at Hammock Resort, Wokha, on September 27 on the theme ‘Time for action.’ Speaking on the occasion, T Nchumbemo Odyuo, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bhandari, and chief guest, urged the gathering to be more cautious as vehicles were made more sophisticated with the advancement of technologies and also made more venerable to more accidents while comparing to the conditions of the state roads. While reminding the values of human lives, he advised the citizens to be more alert to avoid unwanted eventualities, adding aftermath of incidents will never justify. He has attributed loss of innocent human lives to reckless driving and disrespect to laws. He urged the people handling the machines and pedestrians on the roads to be more careful. Sharing codes and measures to avoid accident, he has suggested use of seat belts and urged drivers to concentrate on the road as well to avoid drinking while driving and to respect the authorities in obeying sign boards and signals which are duly done for public safety. He has also cautioned against using cell phone while driving and ensuring a safe distance during wet weather to avoid eventualities. He has also suggested following ethics of driving, the use of lights requirements during night and to check the lights signal regularly as well as to ensure overtaking on appropriate speed, time and area. He also advised drivers to use sophisticated vehicles as per condition and to value life. Elias T Lotha, Transport Commissioner, in his keynote address, stated that human has less civic sense and have no respect to fellow being. Stating that roads belong to all including temporary vegetables vendors on road sides, he asked road commuters to be alert. He also urged to inculcate the feeling of respects and show concern for our fellow people. He also expressed dismay with the departments for the rampant issuing of driving licences without proper verification. Myamo Jami, District Transport Officer, Wokha, made a power point presentation on road safety initiatives, while K Edward Ngullie, School Administrator and social worker, spoke on citizens’ perspective on road safety. He has suggested intensive awareness programmes involving schools and colleges, workshop/seminars for commercial and passenger drivers on road safety and driving ethics. The programme was attended by representatives from district administrator, police department, ACVA Wokha unit, ANTA Wokha unit, Lotha Hoho, Lotha Youth Hoho, and Lotha Students’ Union, GB’s from Wokha and Longsa villages.