The Punjab government has decided to make road safety part of the school curriculum from the academic session beginning next year. Worried over this disturbing trend of accidents, the government, which has witnessed an average of 300 accidents per month in 2010, decided to sensitise people, especially the children. “The decision to make road safety a part of school syllabus was taken during a meeting of officials with Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal,” State Transport Commissioner Hussan Lal said. “The Primary Education Director along with Education Department officials have been asked to prepare the syllabus. From academic session beginning 2012, we aim to introduce it in all schools throughout the state,” the Transport Commissioner added. “Experts from the Transport and Education Departments have begun the work on chalking out a syllabus. They are also studying the curriculum on road safety that is being taught in foreign countries. Since all our campaigns to sensitise people on the issue of road safety haven't yielded desired results, we have decided to introduce a mandatory subject on road safety in schools,” Lal said. According to the state police records, as many as 6,641 road accidents were reported, claiming 3,424 lives, in 2010. The figures were disturbing as it was highest in the last six years, prompting the state government to take some desperate measures.
