Gandhinagar, Dec 16 (NationPress) In an initiative to bolster road safety throughout Gujarat, the Gujarat Road Safety Authority (GRSA), in partnership with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE), conducted a comprehensive three-day Road Safety Management Workshop in Gandhinagar from December 15 to 17.

This rigorous training workshop was designed to enhance the technical and operational skills of officials from various departments, including police, Regional Transport Offices (RTOs), Roads and Buildings Department, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and local urban bodies, with the aim of improving the effectiveness of road safety measures.

Attendees were provided extensive training on traffic regulations, encompassing aspects of the Motor Vehicles Act, Central Motor Vehicle Rules, and Gujarat Motor Vehicle Rules.

Focus was also placed on the scientific investigation of road accidents, the importance of traffic control devices such as road signs, signals, and markings, along with the integration of modern technologies in traffic management and accident analysis.

To ensure the training was relevant and practical, IRTE undertook a preliminary survey to analyze traffic management challenges within the city.

The insights gained were utilized to guide focused discussions on current issues and to devise feasible, actionable solutions.

Over 65 officials from diverse departments, including police, transport, roads and buildings, NHAI, and urban development agencies, participated actively.

The workshop underscored the significance of inter-departmental collaboration, skill enhancement, and capacity building as essential strategies to mitigate road accidents within the state.

Officials expressed that, apart from public awareness campaigns, fortifying institutional capabilities is vital for achieving sustainable progress in road safety.

This collaborative effort presented through the workshop was regarded as a pivotal step toward establishing a safer and more resilient road transport framework in Gujarat.

Road accidents continue to pose serious challenges in Gujarat, with the state reporting over 16,000 crashes and nearly 7,854 fatalities in 2023, a substantial portion of which can be linked to overspeeding and hazardous driving practices.

More than 7,200 deaths were directly associated with speeding, while highway incidents accounted for a considerable share of fatalities.

Moreover, traffic accident injuries are on the rise, with thousands hospitalized in districts such as Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara, averaging nearly 20 injuries every hour in recent years.

Over the years, tens of thousands have tragically lost their lives on the state's roads, underscoring persistent challenges in enforcement, traffic discipline, and road safety awareness.