Jalandhar: As part of the National Road Safety Month being observed by the Punjab Government, a district level seminar was organised at a private school situated on Mall Road under the leadership of Senior Superintendent of Police Kapurthala Gaurav Tura today. The aim of the seminar was to educate the students about traffic rules and road safety. A large number of students from various schools and colleges across the district attended the event. Addressing the gathering, SSP Gaurav Tura stressed on the alarming rise in road accidents and deaths, terming it a matter of grave concern. He urged the participants to strictly follow traffic rules to safeguard their lives and those of others. He said, “Road safety is not just a responsibility, it is a necessity. Driving sensibly and following traffic rules can save lives.”
The SSP highlighted the efforts of Kapurthala Police in spreading traffic awareness at the grassroots level through various initiatives to prevent accidents. Speaking at the seminar, District Transport Officer Major Dr Irvin Kaur highlighted the legal consequences of underage driving. “Driving without a learning licence or permanent licence is a punishable offence. Under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 (Section 199A), parents or vehicle owners allowing minors to drive can face imprisonment up to three years and a fine of Rs 25,000. He appealed to licence-holding students to drive responsibly and urged educational institutions to discourage underage students from bringing vehicles to school. Road Safety Team member Gurbachan Singh Bangar advised the participants about the importance of wearing helmets while driving two-wheelers and emphasised their role in preventing head injuries. The seminar witnessed enthusiastic participation from students who were encouraged to take the message of road safety beyond the classroom. Management representatives of educational institutions were also urged to enforce strict rules to prevent underage driving on campus.
