Bengaluru
Honourable Minister for Transport and Muzrai, Sri Ramalinga Reddy on Friday launched a targeted evidence-based mass media campaign with the aim to warn people of the dangers of speeding. This is to mark the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDoR) observed on the third Sunday of November every year. Through the testimonial-style campaign, titled, “The High Cost of Speeding: Story of Purushottama, Geethamma & Family,” the Karnataka State Road Safety Authority (KSRSA) urges people to think of the consequences of speeding and to follow speed limits while driving. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Road Accident Report 2022 released on October 31, 2023, 88% of injuries due to road crashes were attributed to speeding in Karnataka, and close to 92% of lives were lost due to speeding. The mass media campaign, paired with enhanced enforcement, aims to emphasise the tragic consequences of speeding and deter this risky behaviour amongst drivers, which is the biggest road safety risk factor globally as well as in Karnataka. The campaign is based on the life of a road crash victim KN Purushottama, a native of Tumakuru district, who was hit by a speeding driver while he was on his way to a job interview on a two-wheeler motorcycle in Bengaluru. The crash cost Purushottam a lifetime of disability and inability to earn, while his wife became the sole breadwinner switching jobs to earn a square meal a day for the family. The crash impacted their two daughters’ aspirations as well. The campaign was launched in the presence of Hon’ble Transport Minister, Sri Ramalinga Reddy, Dr. N V Prasad, IAS, Secretary, Transport Department and vice-chairman of KSRSA, Dr. B R Ravikanthe Gowda, IPS, IGP, Bengaluru Central Range, Karnataka State Police, Sri M N Anucheth, IPS, Joint Commissioner, Bengaluru Traffic Police, Sri A M Yogeesh, IAS, Transport & Road Safety Commissioner, Karnataka and Shri J Purushotham, Additional Commissioner and Member Secretary of KSRSA.
