National Road Safety Month Launched in Ranchi: Awareness Chariot Flagged Off
Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhanjantri Flagged Off; 'Safety Through Learning' is This Year's Theme; Negligence Will Not Be Tolerated - Superintendent of Police Rakesh Singh
Ranchi: With the resolve to reduce road accidents, the National Road Safety Month-2026 was grandly inaugurated in Ranchi today, January 03, 2026. Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate Ranchi, Manjunath Bhanjantri, flagged off a Road Safety Awareness Chariot from the Collectorate premises. This chariot will travel through urban and rural areas of the entire district during the month, which runs from January 01 to January 31, 2026, to raise public awareness about traffic rules.
Emphasis on 'Safety Through Learning' Theme
Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhanjantri informed that the theme of this month, being celebrated as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, is "Safety Through Learning". He stated, "Road accidents are becoming a major cause of loss of life and property. Under this theme, we will strive to reduce accidents by educating citizens about traffic rules." He appealed to citizens to strictly follow traffic rules, use helmets and seat belts, and avoid overspeeding and drunk driving.
Comprehensive Campaign to Run Until January 31
Under the National Road Safety Month, various awareness programs will be organized by the joint team of the District Administration, Police, and Transport Department. These activities include:
| Program Name | Objective |
|---|---|
| Awareness Chariot | Propagation of road safety messages in urban and rural areas through LED Vans. |
| Road Safety Chaupal (Community Meetings) | Raising awareness among people about traffic rules. |
| School of Caution (Savdhani ki Pathshala) | Imparting knowledge of traffic rules to students in schools and colleges. |
| Road of Safety | Honoring rule-followers and educating violators through 'Gandhigiri' (non-violent means). |
| Health Checkup Camp | Organizing health checkups for vehicle drivers. |
| Driver Training Program | Organizing training programs for safe driving. |
| Morning Rally (Prabhat Pheri) and Street Play (Nukkad Natak) | Spreading public awareness. |
| Sports Competition | Providing information about road safety in villages and cities through sports events. |
Tackling Accidents Remains a Challenge
Superintendent of Police Traffic Ranchi, Rakesh Singh, who was present at the event, appealed for public cooperation and strictly warned that negligence in road safety will not be tolerated. He shared accident statistics from previous years, highlighting the severity of the issue:
| Year | Total Accidents | Total Deaths | Total Injured |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 746 | 550 | 465 |
| 2025 (Up to Nov) | 747 | 504 | 486 |
Also present on the occasion were Additional District Magistrate Law and Order Ranchi Rajeshwar Nath Alok, District Transport Officer Ranchi Akhilesh Kumar, and other officials and personnel related to road safety.
