WDR | Consumer Voice

World Day of Remembrance 2018 – Remember and Reflect, Remember and Respond

by admin | Nov 15, 2018 | Global Road Safety Initiative, WDR

World Day of Remembrance 2018 – Remember and Reflect, Remember and Respond

‘Roads Have Stories’, with such a strong slogan, the UN will be marking the 25^thanniversary of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDoR), which is held on the third Sunday of November each year. The slogan is linked to the 2^ndpillar of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020: Safer Roads & Mobility. Roads & streets are not just physical connections from point A to point B.They are also the final resting places for so many lives cut short.They tell stories, some of them tragic, that are worth remembering. With children being orphaned, mothers losing their babies, and brothers losing their sisters, the message ‘Remember and Reflect, Remember and Respond’will give us an opportunity on this World Day of Remembrance to remember all those lives.

Every 6 minutes someone dies on the roads of the European Region – 230 people each day, 83 000 people every year. In India, the scene is not any good either. Number of people killed in road accidents in India is 2^ndhighest globally, which is almost 1.5 lakhs per year. This translates into 17 people dying every hour. Another 5 lakhs are seriously injured in road crashes.

MoRTH report of 2017 revealed that there were 4,64,910 road accidents claiming 1,47,913 lives and causing grave injuries to 4,70,975 persons. The report also pointed out a pertinent fact that fatal road accident victims largely constitute young people in the productive age groups. Young adults in the age group of 18 – 45 years accounted for 72.1% of victims during 2017. People in working age group of 18 – 60 years accounted for a share of 87.2% in the total road accident fatalities.

India is a signatory to Brasilia Declaration (Nov 2015) and is committed in reducing the number of road accidents and fatalities by 50% by 2020. India can achieve its commitment to United Nations of reducing fatalities by 50% by the year 2020 through the passage of MVA Bill 2017 and its proper implementation by respective state governments. The government is far from achieving this target, as the reduction rate touched a mere 3% in 2017.

Keeping in tune with ‘Roads Have Stories’, Consumer VOICE is also focusing on the Voice of Road Crash Victims. Consumer VOICE had earlier appealed to the government to hear the voices and the personal agonies and stories of road crash. Infact those voices were strong enough to be heard by the politicians across all political lines.

So, while remembering our loved ones on this special day, time is also ripe to see that not many lives are cut short because of road accidents. While the passage of the MVA Bill 2017 is of utmost important, it is also important as individuals to remember some basic rules of road safety:

No Drink Driving
Use of proper Seat Belts
Use of Child Restraints
Motorcycle Helmets are must both for rider and pillion
No Cell-Phone Use While Driving

Let’s again urge the Government for passage of MVA Bill 2017 and follow self-discipline at the same time. In order to spread the message, Consumer VOICE will be organizing various events along with the state partners in various cities across India.

World Day of Remembrance ( WDR ) for road accident victims

by admin | Dec 5, 2017 | Global Road Safety Initiative, WDR

World Day of Remembrance ( WDR ) for road accident victims

World Day of Remembrance ( WDR ) for Road accident victims – Lucknow

Our state partner in Uttar Pradesh -Consumers Guild has successfully organized rally in Lucknow ,UP. People from walks of life participated in this rally which passed through Swasthya Bhawan,Commissioners office ,transport gate and ended at Shaeed Samarak.

Ex-State Minister Mr.Nanakdev Bhurji, lawyers of High Court People from BJP, Samajwadi Party , and eminent persons from lawyers community, consumer organisations also participated in the rally and demanded for strong laws and safer roads. Click here to view Media Coverages

World Day of Remembrance ( WDR ) for Road accident victims – Panchkula

To mark the World Day of Remembrance (WDR) for road accident victims Consumer VOICE, New Delhi along with its state partner Citizen Awareness Group Haryana organized a walkathon to spread the awareness on WDR based on the theme of “2020 Target: Reduce Road Fatalities and Serious Injuries by 50%.”

A human chain was created and peace march was held at Sector-5 Panchkula On November 19 to spread the awareness on WDR based on the theme of “2020 Target: Reduce Road Fatalities and Serious Injuries by 50%.” This annual event represents a significant opportunity to call attention to the road safety situation. The peace march held at Panchkula was also aimed at demanding immediate passage of the Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill-2017 in the coming winter session of Parliament.
Prominent people at the event included political leader Ranjeeta Mehta, Consumer Federation Haryana, S K Nayyar and Sushma Khanna ,Women Welfare Trust.

Surinder Verma, Chairman, Citizen Awareness Group said “In the state Haryana in the state of Haryana alone 11,234 road crashes, 10,531 injuries and 4,463 road fatalities took place in the year 2016 as per the report released by MoRTH. These casualties may include thousands of innocent children and youth into their productive years of life. This is a massacre on the roads. The passage of Bill is crucial in the upcoming session.”

The memorandum was submitted to the Transport Minister and Transport Commissioner of Haryana and a copy to Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways.
Amarjeet Singh who represented Consumer Voice said “The Road Safety bill promised by government is yet to see the light of say, We urge the government to pass the motor vehicle amendment bill 2017 in the next session of Parliament”. Around 100 people participated in the ‘Walk for safer roads’ to mark the World Day of Remembrance (WDR) for road accident victims.

The event was covered by the press and media.

World Day of Remembrance (WDR) for Road Accident Victims – Jaipur

To mark the World Day of Remembrance for road accidents victims, Consumer VOICE New Delhi, along with Rajasthan Police, Road Safety Cell, Department of Transport, Govt. of Rajasthan, Jaipur Traffic Police and Centre for Road Safety, Sardar Patel University organized a walkathon on November 19, 2017. The walkathon which started form Traffic Park, Shastri Nagar, Jaipur was in partnership with national and international organizations including FIA Foundation, NCC, NSS, Department of Lifelong Learning, University of Rajasthan, Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety and Bhartiya Manav Kalyan Samiti, People’s Trust, CUTS FIA Foundation, NCC, NSS, Department of Lifelong Learning, University of Rajasthan, Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety and Bhartiya Manav Kalyan Samiti, People’s Trust, and CUTS.

Walkathon in Jaipur

The event witnessed participation of more than 700 people including Mrs. S. Parimala, Superintendent of Police (Traffic). Members from National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), NGOs, Traffic Police and also from victims’ family joined the event. Ms. Prerna Arora, Centre Coordinator, Centre for Road Safety spoke about the importance of the UN World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims which is organized on the 3rd Sunday of November every year.

World Day of Remembrance

Mr. Rajneesh, Public Relation Officer of the Department of Transport, Rajasthan also shared his life’s major incident when his journalist wife met with an accident. In the remembrance of passed souls, white balloons were floated in the sky by Mrs. S. Parimala, Superintendent of Police (Traffic) along with other dignitaries viz Sh. Aswini Bagga, Dr. Maya Tandon, Ms. Shilpa, and Additional SP, Traffic Police. They also shared their thoughts on the importance of Road Safety. Mrs. Indra, Sub-Inspector and In-charge of Education Cell of Jaipur Traffic Police informed about the various road safety norms and importance of safety gears such as helmets and seat belts.

A small rally for awareness among the general public was also organized by the NCC and NSS corps and a pledge to all was carried out by Ms Indra at the end of the event.

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims – Noida

To mark the World Day of Remembrance (WDR) for Road traffic Victims Consumer VOICE along with its state partner, Bhartiya Manav Kalyan Samiti, Noida organized a walkathon on 19th November in Noida.

Walkathon organised by Consumer VOICE and Bhartiya Manav Kalyan Samiti, Noida

People from all walks of life assembled at the Community Center of Sector 23, Noida for the walkathon. Sri A. K. Singh, Superintendent of Police, Noida flagged-off the rally. He asked for greater awareness on traffic rules and also all the citizens to adhere to the traffic rules.

Sri Hemant Upadhaya, Advisor Consumer VOICE who was also present for the occasion reiterated that Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2017 should be urgently cleared. He hoped that in the coming winter session of the Parliament it will be passed.

World Day of Reemembrance

Sri S.C.Sharma, President Bhartiya Manav Kalyan Samiti mentioned the deaths that one witnesses every day on Indian roads. He urged that we should feel and understand that traffic rules are for own safety. He also demanded the quick clearance of the MVA Bill 2017.

This peaceful march through main road covering a distance of about two kilometer reached Noida Stadium at Gate Number 4 where Sri M.K Singh City Magistrate received the memorandum and assured that suitable action will be taken in this regard.

Children Participating in Walkathon in Noida

There were nearly 200 participants comprising students, eminent persons including presidents of Residents Welfare Associations and respectable citizens of Noida Associations, Advocates, and Media Persons. The Event ended after refreshment to participants.
The event was also well covered by the press and media.

World Day of Remembrance ( WDR ) for Road accident Victims-Chandigarh

To mark the World Day of Remembrance (WDR) for road accident victims Consumer VOICE, New Delhi along with its state partner Citizen Awareness Group Chandigarh and Chandigarh Police organized a walk at Children’s Park, Sector 23, on November 19, 2017 to demand safer roads for all.

The ‘Walk for Safer Roads’ which was attended by 250 people was followed by a candlelight march which saw the participation of social activists, personnel of Chandigarh Police, Traffic Police, scores of students of MCM College and Home Science College.

Walk for Safer Roads in Chandigarh

DSP Traffic, Rajeev Ambasta delivered a talk and gave detailed information on traffic rules. Motivational speaker and Traffic Marshal, Mohinder Kour Kataria spoke on the significance of the day.

On this occasion, Surinder Verma, Chairman Citizen Awareness Group said that “this is the third year in a row that we are observing this day in remembrance of Road Traffic Victims with the support of Consumer Voice Delhi which is also working tirelessly to raise the demand for early passage of Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2017.”

Candle Light March in Chandigarh

Chandigarh alone witnessed 428 road crashes, 329 injuries and 151 road fatalities in the year 2016 as per the report released by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). These casualties include thousands of children and youth into their productive years of life. The passage of Bill is crucial in the upcoming session.

Amarjeet Singh Advisor, Consumer Voice said that the Road Safety Bill promised by the government is yet to see the light and we urge the government to pass the Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2017 in the next session of Parliament.

WDR in Chandigarh

The memorandum was submitted to the Transport minister and Transport Commissioner of Punjab and a copy to Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways.

Online Coverage:

The event was covered by various print and electronic media.