𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐀𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

…𝑺𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝑬𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒁𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑹𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑯𝒚𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒔

By Kezang Choden

Khamdang Lower Secondary School, located in Tashiyangtse Dzongkhag, has launched an important road safety awareness campaign aimed at teaching students how to use zebra crossings correctly. The initiative highlights the importance of vigilance, maintaining a steady walking pace, and avoiding distractions, particularly from gadgets, while crossing the road. This campaign is particularly timely given the high frequency with which students need to cross the road, and the increased traffic from the Kholongchhu Hydropower Project which poses a greater risk of accidents.

School authorities have expressed concerns about the safety of students, who frequently navigate the busy roads around the school. The initiative is designed to equip students with the necessary skills to safely traverse zebra crossings and reduce the likelihood of mishaps. The school staff have taken an active role in demonstrating proper crossing techniques, ensuring that students are aware of the dangers associated with careless road behavior.

Chenga Norbu, the traffic in-charge of Doksum, pointed the critical need for road safety programs given the surge in vehicle traffic, particularly near the Gewog connectivity road. “Most of our students are day-scholars and need to cross the road multiple times a day. This makes road safety a primary concern,” Norbu noted. The awareness program was comprehensive, targeting not just students but also drivers to ensure both parties understand road safety rules. The session included practical demonstrations on how to use zebra crossings properly, emphasizing that pedestrians should approach crossings with caution, stand at the edge, check both sides for oncoming traffic, and wait for vehicles to come to a complete stop before crossing.

Norbu further advised against walking on the zigzag lines and using phones while crossing. He highlighted the increased stopping distance required by vehicles in wet conditions, urging pedestrians to be especially cautious. “Always make sure that motorists have seen you before stepping onto the crossing. Stay within the marked lines and never assume that vehicles will stop instantly, especially in adverse weather,” he said.

Sonam Dargay, the principal of Khamdang Lower Secondary School, shared his concerns about the growing number of vehicles passing by the school, including those from the Kholongchhu project. “We are deeply concerned because our students, who are young and inexperienced, may not fully grasp the rules of road safety when using zebra crossings,” Dargay explained. In response, the school reached out to the traffic division for assistance in organizing the awareness program. The session included demonstrations on safe road-crossing practices and adherence to traffic rules. Dargay hopes that the program will have a lasting impact, stating, “We expect the demonstration and safety measures to help protect our students now and in the future.”

To further support road safety, the school has appointed the Captain of the Day (COD) to oversee and assist students at zebra crossings. “We have entrusted our CODs with guiding students safely across the road and ensuring that everyone follows the proper guidelines,” Dargay added. He expressed gratitude to the traffic police for their support and acknowledged the dedication of the teachers involved in guiding students. “We sincerely thank the traffic police for their cooperation. Our teachers are fully committed to helping the children understand and follow road safety rules to prevent accidents.”

Students have also expressed their appreciation for the road safety awareness program. Nima Dhendup, a Class 7 student, highlighted the importance of zebra crossings during a recent session. He admitted that prior to the training, he had limited knowledge about zebra crossings, having only seen them in urban areas. The session provided him with a better understanding of their purpose and benefits, especially in ensuring pedestrian safety. Nima expressed concern for younger students who may not fully grasp road safety rules and pledged to share the information he learned with his peers, parents, and villagers to promote community-wide awareness.

Kelzang Tshomo, a Grade 8 student, also shared her gratitude for the program. She noted that the training deepened her understanding of road safety and the importance of staying alert when crossing roads. “If we all follow traffic rules properly, the number of accidents will automatically decrease,” Kelzang said, emphasizing the role of individual responsibility in preventing accidents. She also pointed out the significance of zebra crossings for people with disabilities, noting that these safety measures provide a secure way for everyone to cross the road while adhering to the rules.

The road safety awareness campaign at Khamdang Lower Secondary School represents a proactive approach to enhancing student safety in a high-traffic area. By providing essential road safety skills and involving both students and drivers, the program aims to create a safer environment for the entire community.The initiative took place on September 5.