• By JE News Desk
  • Thu, 17 Oct 2024 04:15 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

A two-day ‘National Media Workshop on Road Safety,’ organised by UNICEF, brought together over 30 media professionals in Ahmedabad to address the growing concern of road accidents affecting children and adolescents in India. The workshop aimed to enhance the role of journalists in promoting road safety and foster collaboration between media, government officials, and experts in advocating for the safety of young people on the road.

India faces a significant challenge with road safety, particularly for children, with more than 42 children and 31 adolescents losing their lives to road accidents daily. These incidents often occur near schools, making it essential to raise awareness and enforce safety measures. The urgency was further underscored by a 2022 UNICEF report, which revealed that in South Asia alone, over 29,000 child and adolescent deaths were caused by road traffic collisions in 2019.

During the workshop, experts discussed the root causes of road accidents, such as over-speeding near schools, and emphasised critical safety practices like helmet use, speed limits, and seatbelt usage. The event also highlighted global efforts, including the UN’s Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021-2030), which seeks to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50 per cent by 2030.

Key participants, including Dr Syed Ali Hubbe from UNICEF India, stressed the importance of viewing road safety as a child rights issue. The workshop encouraged media professionals to take an active role in raising public awareness and advocating for safer road practices, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children and adolescents. The event concluded with a call for the media to drive informed discourse, helping ensure safer travel for young people across India.

The workshop also saw participation from key persons including Shri S Patel, CEO, Gujarat Road Safety Authority, Dr G Gururaj, WHO Collaborating Centre (NIMHANS), Dr Narayan Gaonkar, Health Specialist, UNICEF Gujarat, Dr S K Chenji, Health Officer UNICEF Gujarat , Dr Sridhar Ryavanki, Health Specialist, UNICEF Telangana, Mr Amar Karan, Sr Programme Coordinator Center for Environment Education, Dr Gaurang Joshi, Professor & HOD, Dept of Transport & Engineering, SVNIT Surat, Mr Kuldeep Tiwari, Asst Editor, Ahmedabad Mirror, Vice President, Gujarat Media Club, Mr Utsav Parmar, Deputy Director, Doordarshan, youth advocate Avira Bhatt, Ms Sonia Sarkar, Communication Officer (Media), UNICEF, and senior media representatives from print, broadcast, online and radio.