RTO Srinagar team carries out ‘Road Safety Outreach’ at Dal Lake and Shankaracharya Hills

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, JANUARY 28 (STC): The Team RTO Flying Squad Srinagar, headed by Er. Mubashir Jan, carried out a special awareness drive around the picturesque Dal Lake and the historic Shankaracharya area. The drive specifically targeted stand drivers and auto-rickshaw operators, who play a vital role in the city’s daily commute and tourism ecosystem.
Reports said that the officers engaged directly with the drivers, sensitizing them on key aspects of road safety — including strict adherence to traffic rules, the dangers of over-speeding, and the need for disciplined, responsible driving to avert accidents.
Er. Mubashir Jan, widely regarded as a well-versed and people-centric officer, delivered a powerful message during the interactions: “Road safety is a shared responsibility.”
He urged drivers to embrace discipline not out of fear of penalties, but as a commitment to protecting lives — their own, their passengers’, and fellow road users’.
ARTO emphasized awareness, dignity, and respect in all engagements, opting for constructive dialogue and encouragement over punitive measures. This approach struck a chord with the driver community, who warmly appreciated the respectful and reform-oriented manner of the Flying Squad.
During the interactions, the Flying Squad also advised tourists, drivers and all road users to remain especially vigilant and follow essential safety protocols during any untoward weather conditions. Officers stressed the importance of reducing speed in fog, rain, or snow, ensuring proper use of headlights and fog lights, maintaining safe following distances, avoiding sudden braking or overtaking, and keeping windscreen wipers and defoggers in good working condition. They reminded everyone that adverse weather significantly increases the risk of skidding, reduced visibility, and loss of control, and that precautionary steps can prevent many weather-related mishaps on Kashmir’s roads.
Additionally, the team highlighted the need to strictly ensure road safety measures while driving in hilly terrain areas. Officers advised drivers to maintain low and controlled speeds on steep gradients and sharp curves, use lower gears while descending to avoid brake overheating or failure, never overtake on blind bends or narrow stretches, keep a safe distance from the edge of the road, and always wear seat belts. They particularly cautioned against using mobile phones, fatigue driving, and overloading vehicles in mountainous stretches, emphasizing that hilly roads demand extra patience, anticipation, and respect for natural road conditions to prevent serious accidents.
The initiative highlights a growing shift toward proactive, empathy-driven enforcement in Srinagar’s transport sector, aiming to build a culture of voluntary compliance and safer roads for all.
Drivers and locals alike hailed the drive as a refreshing example of administration working hand-in-hand with the people it serves.
(Straight Talk Communications)