01/03/2026
Government Sheikh-ul-Alam Memorial Degree College, Budgam, on 28th February 2026, organized a District-Level Road Safety Awareness Program with participation from all degree colleges. The event formed part of the third phase of the Road Safety Awareness being conducted by the lead college.
The event commenced with the formal inauguration by Mr. Arshad Irshad, Assistant Professor of English Literature and Convenor of the Debate & Seminar Committee. He welcomed the distinguished guests, faculty members, and students, and set the tone for the deliberations by underlining the relevance of road safety in contemporary society.
Mr. Aabid Hussain Mattoo (MVI, ARTO Budgam) stressed the importance of individual responsibility as a driver on the road. Citing alarming statistics, he stated that approximately 4.7 lakh accidents occur annually in India, amounting to nearly 19 deaths every hour. He asserted that accidents are preventable and identified as the over-speeding the principal cause of road crashes. He explained that excessive speed reduces the time required to make sound judgments and leaves drivers with insufficient time to read caution signs or react to unexpected hazards. He emphasized strict adherence to seat belt usage, highlighting a worrying trend wherein individuals purchase seat belt buckles to override the safety alarm. He warned that airbags are synchronized with seat belt occupancy sensors, and such artificial overrides mislead the airbag system, potentially resulting in fatal consequences. He further noted that the majority of fatalities occur in the 14–35 age group, calling upon youth to exercise responsibility. He advised citizens not to ignore road and weather advisories. Introducing the concept of a “Smartian,” he described such a person as someone who proactively assists during accidents. He announced that the department would reward such responsible citizens.
Mr. Amit Dhar highlighted a significant shift in terminology from “accident” to “crash,” emphasizing that such incidents are not mere accidents but preventable events. He emphasized that every 24 seconds, someone loses their life globally due to a road crash, and described the exponential increase in vehicle density as a growing menace. He strongly advocated car pooling as a solution to traffic congestion. Referring to the odd-even policy, he remarked that it failed because people found ways to circumvent it. He noted that in 2019, the Ministry of Road Transport amended the Motor Vehicles Act, significantly increasing fines and penalties. However, he stressed that concern for one’s own life should outweigh fear of penalties.
Worthy Principal, SAM DC Budgam, Prof. (Dr.) Mohd Amin Malik presented bouquets and mementos to Ms. Tabasum Qadir Parray (DLSA Secretary, Budgam), Mr. Malik Shabir Ahmad, Special Mobile Magistrate, Traffic, Kashmir Division, Mr. Aabid Hussain Mattoo, MVI ARTO Budgam and Mr. Amit Dhar, MVI ARTO Budgam. In a gesture of reciprocity, Ms. Parray presented a bouquet and a memento to the Principal. Additionally, Dr. Aijaz Rashid, Convener College Transport Committee and Dr. Syed Mohmad Javad, Convenors Road Safety Club, received mementos from the Principal in recognition of their efforts.
He emphasized that pillion riders must wear helmets. He also explained that if a person commits five offences of a similar nature, they may be categorized as a habitual offender, leading to suspension of license, issuance of notice, and eventual revocation.
He also spoke about the Road Accident Victim Fund (RAVF), stating that district authorities provide financial assistance as follows:
• ₹1,00,000 to the family of a deceased victim
• ₹75,000 for grievous injury
• ₹10,000 for minor injury
Following the speech, the College Tarana was played, after which the College Newsletter, “Wuder The Heights,” was formally released by the Principal, who was flanked by senior faculty members and the guests of the day.
The Presidential Address was delivered by Principal Prof. (Dr.) Mohd Amin Malik, who emphasized the importance of road safety in light of escalating traffic congestion, which he described as an intractable problem. He said that the consequences of traffic congestion extend far beyond mere inconvenience; they affect our productivity, air quality and overall wellbeing. The fuel wasted as vehicles crawl in lower gears not only drives up costs but also causes air pollution. One can imagine the impact of lakhs of vehicles emitting pollutants like particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides etc. into the atmosphere on a daily basis across our cities/towns.
He noted that the present event marked the third phase of Road Safety Awareness Program. He outlined the activities conducted in earlier phases:
•Phase 1: Road Safety Rally (From College Campus to Main Chowk Budgam and back.)
•Phase 2: Student competitions including Elocution, Poster Making and Slogan Writing.
He stressed that while making traffic laws stringent is necessary, awareness initiatives such as these are equally important. He also highlighted that the traffic department alone cannot be expected to resolve the issue due to limited resources, and that collective responsibility is essential. To improve compliance with traffic rules and ensure swift enforcement, certain levels of gazetted officers at the District/Tehsil level should be empowered to impose fines on offenders through an online portal as part of their routine duties, he said.
Following this, Ms. Tabasum Qadir Parray delivered a lively and engaging speech, raising awareness about the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA). During her presentation, she played the NALSA song, which portrays the organization’s role in promoting access to justice and supporting victims of road accidents. She distinguished between highway accidents and normal road accidents, noting that highway accidents are generally more fatal due to high speed. She highlighted the grave statistic that one child is killed every three minutes globally due to road accidents.
She informed the audience about the designated court for road accident cases — the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal (MACT) — which settles insurance claims arising from road accidents. Drawing from her vast experience as a judge, she sensitized students to the plight of accident victims.
Mr. Malik Shabir Ahmad (Special Mobile Magistrate, Traffic, Kashmir Division), speaking last on the occasion, stated that one can either be a victim, a violator, or a responsible citizen. He emphasized strict adherence to traffic rules and shared alarming road accident statistics. He further cautioned against vehicle modifications, stating that modified vehicles are often unsafe and that each modification is punishable with six months’ imprisonment.
The event concluded with a prize distribution ceremony, during which winners of the District Level Road Safety Awareness competitions were felicitated by the Principal and other distinguished guests.
The formal vote of thanks was presented by Dr. Syed Mohmad Javad, Convener Road Safety Club of the College. Ms. Shehla Rashid, Assistant Professor of Sociology, served as the Rapporteur for the event.
