Drop in road accident deaths by 48% after SSF formed in Punjab: Inderbir Singh Nijjar

After the formation of Road Safety Force (Sadak Surakhya Force) in Punjab, the state has recorded a major improvement in road safety. Deaths caused by road accidents have reduced by 48 per cent, said Amritsar South MLA Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar.

He said that before the Aam Aadmi Party government came to power, Punjab was among the top three states in the country in terms of deaths due to road accidents. However, the situation has now changed completely, he said, adding that quick response by SSF teams at accident spots, immediate first aid to victims and timely medical treatment have helped save many precious lives.

Dr Nijjar said that other states in the country have shown interest in adopting Punjab's Road Safety Force model. He added that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had highlighted the importance of road safety in his 'Mann Ki Baat' programme earlier.

Sharing details, Dr Nijjar said that 1,597 specially trained personnel form the backbone of SSF. They have been provided with 144 modern and fully equipped vehicles, he said. Since its launch in February last year, the force has played a key role in reducing road accident deaths by 48 per cent, the MLA claimed. The SSF has also ensured the safe return of valuables and cash belonging to accident victims, he said.

Nijjer added that the force has been deployed on 4,200 kilometres of highways where the chances of accidents are higher. He further stated that apart from regular patrolling in assigned areas, the SSF teams also act strongly against traffic violations which helps in preventing accidents.

Dr Nijjar alleged that previous governments in the state did not pay proper attention to this serious issue, which led to Punjab being among the top three states in terms of road accident deaths.