Panjim: The Tiswadi Muslim Welfare Society (TMWS) launched a month-long Road Safety Campaign on 15th January to raise awareness about preventable road accidents and to promote safer driving practices. The campaign aims to sensitise citizens on the importance of road safety.
The inaugural programme was held at Nalanda Hall, EDC House here. The event was attended by various stakeholders, including members of the TMWS, local authorities, and community representatives.
In his inaugural address, Shri Shaikh Mohideen Hassan, Member of TMWS, provided an overview of the society’s objectives and initiatives. He explained that TMWS works in various fields, including education, health, sports, communal harmony, economic empowerment, and counselling. The organisation has previously conducted social programmes like blood donation and health check-up camps, as well as parenting workshops focusing on drug awareness and teen pregnancies. Due to the rising number of road accidents in Goa, TMWS has taken the initiative to launch this Road Safety Campaign with the goal of educating drivers and pedestrians on road safety rules, and promoting responsible and respectful behaviour on the roads. He encouraged the citizens of Goa to actively participate in the campaign by attending workshops, community events, and awareness drives to create safer roads and happier communities.
The Chief Guest of the event, Shri Salim Shaikh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Goa Police, commended TMWS for their efforts in promoting road safety and referred to the organisation as a “safety hero.” He urged everyone to become safety heroes by adhering to traffic laws. Shri Shaikh emphasised the importance of the “3 E’s” for achieving road safety:
- Road Engineering: Proper road infrastructure is essential to avoid accidents.
- Road Education: Citizens must be educated on how to use the roads safely.
- Road Enforcement: Law enforcement agencies, such as the RTO and traffic police, must ensure the strict enforcement of road safety laws.
He also stressed that a driving licence should not be seen as a licence to commit traffic violations, highlighting the dangers of underage driving, driving without a licence, drinking and driving, and using mobile phones while driving. Shri Shaikh also mentioned that there are currently 565 cameras installed across Panjim to monitor traffic, and that compliance with traffic laws would help save citizens from unnecessary fines. He further added that the Supreme Court is monitoring the traffic police, and they are required to submit regular reports on traffic enforcement.
The Guest Speaker, Shri Tukaram R.S. Mandrekar, Assistant Sub Inspector, Goa Police, elaborated on various traffic laws and signals, offering valuable insights on how to avoid common mistakes while following traffic regulations.
The programme concluded with an oath for road safety, pledging to adhere to traffic rules and contribute to making the roads safer for everyone.
Shri Barkat Shaikh, President, TMWS, presided over the programme.
