Include audio-visual road safety modules for students of Class I to Class XII: Pradhan to NCERT

NEW DELHI: In a bid to educate future drivers and road users, education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday directed NCERT and his ministry to include audio-visual modules on road safety for students of Class I to Class XII. He said this should be made an elective module and students should get credit points.

“Road safety cannot be an optional subject...I am directing the education ministry and NCERT to prepare audio-visual modules on road safety for age and class appropriate courses for students. We should start this from the current academic year,” he said at the launch of road safety learning module “Surakshit Safar” for school students. Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari also attended the event.

Pradhan said around 25 crore students are studying in schools in India and they can play a key role in self education and creating awareness about road safety. He added that NCERT is developing some textbooks on road safety and this must be made a course curriculum.

Speaking at the event, Gadkari said India recorded five lakh crashes last year, which killed 1.8 lakh people and left over three lakh injured. He added that over 10,000 lives are lost around schools and educational institutions. He suggested that school entry and exit points should be made safer.

Gadkari added that the govt has introduced several rules such as mandatory wearing of rear seat belts, and these habits should be taught early in childhood. “I would request students to advise their parents against using mobile phones while driving, and encourage responsible behaviour on roads,” he said.