Mangalore : The valedictory session of “Road Safety Week” function was held on Monday evening in Pandeshwar by District Police, Traffic and Bus Owners Association in joint auspices, at Carmel School Hall, Near Rosario Cathedral.
B. Seva Nayak, R.T.O. Mangalore Division, P. Muthooraya, D.C.P. (Crime), Ramesh Kumar, D.C.P. (Law and order), Prof. T.C. Shivashankara Murthy, Vice-chancellor, Mangalore University, Rajavarma Ballal, President of D.K. Bus Owners Association, Prabhakar Sharma, Additional D.C. of D.K. Dt. And Pa Ra Shetty, D.C.P.-C.R.P. were present as guests of honour on the occasion.
Addressing the distinguished gathering Prof. Murthy stated such occasions stand out to inform common people about road safety, and it is necessary to maintain road safety measures to avoid accidents ending in misery and trauma. Prof. Murthy asked parents to teach their children going to school and markets, to consider road safety measures and follow them for their own benefits.
D.C.P. Ramesh Kumar advised people that such programmes were specially designed and should not be forgotten after they are over but should guide the citizens all through the year to save their lives from danger. A criminal is sentenced to life imprisonment if he kills one person, but a driver kills several passengers in a bus accident and gets away with 2 years of jail. This irony should be changed and IPC should be amended to punish rash drivers more, he said, seeking legal changes.
Rajavarma Ballal in his speech told the listeners, that it was not enough to observe a Road Safety Week, but traffic rules should be maintained by police and pedestrians ceaselessly, in view of increased traffic on modern roads. Other speakers also made similar points on safety steps.

Prizes were distributed to winners of essay and painting competitions held during the week. Four drivers were honured for accident-free driving for a long time and similarly certain Traffic police men were also awarded mementos for their efficient service over long years.