What is the lesson 'Road Safety Week' about?

It is an essay on the importance of road safety and the national Road Safety Week campaign — its aims, the activities held, the causes of road accidents and the measures to prevent them.

When and by whom is Road Safety Week organised?

It is organised every year in January by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India, with support from charitable organisations, NGOs and private firms.

What are the main causes of road accidents in the lesson?

Drunken driving and over-speeding, under-age driving, distracted driving (cell phones, loud music), not using seat-belts or jumping signals, careless pedestrians, and unsafe poorly-kept commercial vehicles.

Lesson 3: Road Safety Week

Q: What is the permissible age for driving in India according to the lesson?

18 years for a private vehicle and 20 years for a commercial vehicle. A learner's licence can be obtained at 16 for a 50cc vehicle with the parents' consent.

Q: What is the message of 'Road Safety Week'?

Road safety is of paramount importance; most accidents happen due to lack of awareness. By following traffic rules strictly we can prevent accidents and save precious lives.

Detailed Text · An essay on safety on the road

English · Odisha Board Class 9 · Summary + Textbook Q&A + 25 Quiz

📖 Lesson 3 — Road Safety Week (Detailed Text): This informative essay explains what road safety is, why it is so important, and how the Road Safety Week campaign spreads awareness about traffic rules to reduce accidents and save lives. Everything you need — summary, theme, word-meanings and all textbook answers — is here.

Road Safety Week

📝 About the Lesson

‘Road Safety Week’ is an essay on the importance of safety on the road. It describes the Road Safety Week — a national awareness programme held every January by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India — its aims, the activities organised during it, the main causes of road accidents, and the measures to prevent them. The message is that road safety is of paramount importance for saving our own lives and the lives of others.

📚 Summary

Importance (Para 1): Road safety is not non-essential — it is of paramount importance, as it affects people's lives. It means the safety of pedestrians, motorists, cyclists and passengers from roadside injuries and deaths. According to the World Health Organisation, most hospitalisation cases and deaths are due to lack of awareness, so everyone must follow traffic rules, regulations and signals.

Road Safety Week (Para 2): Road Safety Week is a national awareness event to reduce accidents and save lives. The government, charitable organisations, NGOs and private firms organise it. It sensitises people about the dangers of drunken driving and high-speed driving, and the importance of wearing a helmet (bikers) and seat-belt (four-wheel drivers), and not using cell phones or music while driving.

Organisation (Para 3): It is held every January by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, celebrated in major cities like Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bhubaneswar. Banners, posters, films, pocket-guides and leaflets are distributed; schools and colleges take part; and authorities send a message of ‘Zero Tolerance against Drunken Driving’. Competitions, exhibitions, debates, workshops, free medical camps and driving-training workshops are organised.

Causes of accidents (Para 4): The main causes are: (1) drunken driving and over-speeding; (2) under-age driving (legal age is 18 for private vehicles, 20 for commercial; a learner's licence at 16 for a 50cc vehicle with parents' consent); (3) distracted driving (cell phones, texting, loud music); (4) not using seat-belts, jumping signals, driving in restricted lanes; (5) careless pedestrians; (6) unsafe, poorly-kept commercial vehicles.

Prevention (Para 5): Authorities should check all drivers for drunken driving, issue licences strictly, heavily fine phone-users and those without helmets/seat-belts, caution drivers with road signs and speed limits, make a fitness certificate compulsory for every vehicle, and show no tolerance for violations.

Conclusion (Para 6): Road Safety Week is an opportunity to recognise the preciousness of life and to understand what can be done to save our own life and the lives of others.

💡 Theme / Message

Road safety is of paramount importance, and most accidents happen due to lack of awareness. By following traffic rules strictly — not drinking and driving, wearing helmets and seat-belts, avoiding distractions and over-speeding — we can prevent accidents and save precious lives, our own and others'.

🏷️ Why ‘Road Safety Week’?

The lesson is named after the national awareness campaign ‘Road Safety Week’, held every January, which is the central subject of the essay — its aims, activities and the road-safety message it spreads.

📖 Glossary (Word Meanings)

Word	Meaning
paramount	more important than anything else
prevent	to check; to put an end to
pedestrian	a person travelling on foot; a passer-by
WHO	World Health Organisation — a specialised agency of the UN (1948, Geneva) for international health
awareness	knowledge; information
reduce	to make less; decrease
logistic	giving support essential to the proper operation of a campaign
campaign	a series of planned activities to fulfil a social aim
emphasise	to give importance
dissuade	to persuade somebody not to do something
enthusiasm	a strong feeling of excitement and interest
voluntarily	willingly; freely with interest
commuter	a daily traveller (usually for work)
fatalities	deaths; loss
drunken	a person after drinking alcohol
resort to	to make use of something bad; take to
distracted	disturbed; absent-minded
texting	writing on a cell phone
casualty	accident; death
violation	breaking of law
caution	to warn
tolerance	patience
precious	valuable; costly

D. Let's understand the text — Textbook Question Answers

1What is the first paragraph about?

The first paragraph is about road safety — its meaning and importance. It explains that road safety is of paramount importance, that it is the safety of road users from injuries and deaths, and that awareness is necessary to prevent accidents.

2What is road safety? What does it involve?

Road safety is the safety of people from roadside injuries and deaths. It involves various methods and measures which must be followed by road users — pedestrians, motorists, cyclists and passengers — to prevent serious injuries and deaths on the road.

3What is the finding of the World Health Organisation?

According to the World Health Organisation, most of the hospitalisation cases and leading causes of death are due to lack of awareness about road safety.

4Why is there a greater need of awareness among people about road safety?

Because of the rise in accidents caused by the increasing number of vehicle users, there is a greater need for awareness so that people follow the rules and prevent serious injuries and deaths.

5What does the second paragraph talk about?

The second paragraph talks about Road Safety Week — what it is, who organises it, and the aim of the campaign (to raise awareness about traffic rules and reduce accidents).

6Who observes the Road Safety Week Campaign?

The government observes Road Safety Week. Besides, many charitable organisations, non-government agencies and private firms across the country also organise and provide logistic support to the campaign.

7When is it observed?

Road Safety Week is observed every year in the month of January.

8What is the main aim of Road Safety Week Campaign?

The main aim is to raise public awareness about traffic rules, to reduce road accidents, and to help people save their own lives as well as the lives of others on the road.

9What things should people know about road safety by this campaign?

People should know the dangers of drunken driving and high-speed driving, the importance of wearing a helmet (for bikers) and a seat-belt (for four-wheel drivers), and that they should not use cell phones or listen to music while driving.

10What does the author say in the third paragraph?

In the third paragraph the author says Road Safety Week is organised every January by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. He describes how it is celebrated in major cities and the various programmes held — educational banners, posters, films, leaflets, competitions, exhibitions, debates, workshops, seminars, free medical camps and driving-training workshops — to spread awareness.

11When is the Road Safety Week organised?

It is organised every year in the month of January by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India.

12Where do people celebrate this week? Who voluntarily take part in the campaign?

It is celebrated in major cities like Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Baroda, Pune, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad and Chandigarh. Many schools and colleges voluntarily take part in the campaign.

13What do the local authorities do during this campaign?

The local authorities organise a thorough check of drivers and motorcyclists to send a strong message of ‘Zero Tolerance against Drunken Driving’ and other safety violations, and they explain traffic rules, signs and cautions to commuters.

14How do drivers get benefit out of this programme?

Drivers benefit from the free medical check-up camps and driving-training workshops organised for them during the campaign.

15What activities are organised for school and college children?

Various painting and drawing competitions, road-safety announcements, exhibitions, tests of road rules, debates, workshops and seminars are organised, in which schools and colleges take part voluntarily.

16Why is the fourth paragraph important for us?

The fourth paragraph is important because it makes us aware of the various causes of serious accidents, so that we can understand and avoid them.

17How many important causes of accident have been highlighted in this paragraph? Can you add some more causes to this list?

Six important causes are highlighted: (1) drunken driving and over-speeding; (2) under-age driving; (3) distracted driving; (4) not using seat-belts / jumping signals / driving in restricted lanes; (5) careless pedestrians; (6) unsafe, poorly-kept commercial vehicles. More causes: bad or poorly-lit roads, overloading, driving in bad weather, mechanical failure, and ignoring road signs.

18Who are eligible to get driving licence from the authorities?

In India, a person must be 18 years old to drive a private vehicle and 20 years for a commercial vehicle. A learner's licence can be obtained at 16 to drive a 50cc vehicle with the parents' consent. So only qualified people of the right age are eligible.

19What does ‘distracted driving’ mean?

‘Distracted driving’ means driving while one's attention is diverted — speaking on cell phones and texting, talking to other passengers, or listening to loud music while driving.

20Find out the word, in the fourth paragraph, which means ‘traveller on foot’.

The word is ‘pedestrians’.

21What can you learn from the fifth paragraph?

From the fifth paragraph we learn how to prevent accidents — by checking drunken driving, issuing licences strictly, fining phone-users and those without helmets/seat-belts, cautioning with road signs and speed limits, making fitness certificates compulsory, and showing zero tolerance for violations.

22How can the drunken driving be checked?

Drunken driving can be checked by the local authorities checking all drivers and motorcyclists, and by fining or punishing offenders strictly so that they do not repeat such violations.

23What should the government do for issuing driving licence?

The government should issue strict orders to the licence-issuing authorities to take strong steps while issuing licences, so that licences go only to qualified persons.

24What can be done for old and unused vehicles?

A fitness certificate should be made compulsory for every vehicle running on the road, including old and unsafe ones, and no tolerance should be shown towards the violation of road-safety rules.

25Who does ‘us’ refer to in the last paragraph?

‘Us’ refers to all of us — the people / road users / society as a whole.

26Can you suggest some more ways to prevent road accidents?

Yes — building better and well-lit roads, strictly enforcing traffic rules, educating drivers and pedestrians, regular vehicle maintenance and fitness checks, putting up clear road signs, avoiding overloading and over-speeding, and never drinking before driving.

E. Let's understand the text better

1(a) Match the paragraph numbers (A) with their main ideas (B).

organisation of road safety week — Para 3 causes of road accidents — Para 4 ways or measures for prevention of road accidents — Para 5 road safety and its importance — Para 1 conclusion; theme of the text — Para 6 aims of Road Safety Week Campaign — Para 2

2(b) Fill in the blanks choosing the appropriate words from the brackets.

(i) According to the statistics of the WHO, most hospitalisation cases and leading causes of deaths are due to lack of awareness about road safety. (ii) The aim of Road Safety Week Campaign is to emphasise and educate people about safe road travel by applying just simple rules. (iii) Pocket guides and leaflets related to road safety are distributed to the on-road travellers. (iv) Free medical check-up camps are organised for the drivers. (v) Traffic safety games including card games, puzzles and board games are organised for school children. (vi) The permissible age in India for having a driving licence is sixteen years for vehicles up to 50 CC engine capacities without gears with the consent of parents. (vii) Texting on cell phones while driving is a kind of distracted driving. (viii) Everyone should think about safety first then drive.

F & G. Let's talk, slogans & word-work — useful for exams.

1F (a) Say whether the following statements are True or False.

(i) Most of the accidents take place due to lack of awareness among the people. — True (Para 1). (ii) The celebration of Road Safety Week is one of the awareness programmes to be safe on the road. — True (Para 2). (iii) Road Safety campaign discourages people from drinking alcohol and from using cell phones for talking and texting. — True (Para 2). (iv) Road Safety Week is organised every year in November by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway. — False (it is organised in January). (v) During the Road Safety Week, training camps are organised for school and college children. — False (driving-training workshops are for drivers; competitions etc. are for children). (vi) The young people at the age of 16 can obtain a driving licence. — False (at 16 only a learner's licence for a 50cc vehicle with parents' consent; full licence at 18). (vii) The fitness certificate should be made compulsory for only old and unused vehicles. — False (it should be compulsory for every vehicle). (viii) Talking to other persons while driving comes under drunken driving. — False (it comes under distracted driving). (ix) Road Safety Week creates an opportunity to make people understand what could be done to save our life as well as the life of others. — True (Para 6). (x) We should think about driving fast then our safety. — False (we should think about our safety first, then drive).

2F (b) Road-safety slogans (for chain-drill / poster work).

Follow road safety rules. · Don't be careless, follow traffic rules. · Be alert to save your life. · Follow road culture to save your future. · It is wise to be slow while driving. · Don't be in a hurry; or you will be in worry. · Never drink while driving. · Drink and drive never go together. · Roads are made to drive not to fly. · Always use seat belt to avoid accident. · Be sure to wear helmet before riding your bike. · Drive slower to live longer.

3G (a) Crossword — thirteen words related to Road Safety (answers).

Across: 2. ROAD · 3. SAFETY · 5. HELMET · 7. RED · 8. GREEN · 10. LICENCE · 11. TRAVELLER Down: 1. TRAFFIC · 4. RULES · 6. SEAT BELT · 9. YELLOW · 12. POLICE · 13. DRIVER

4G (a) Crossword clue meanings (quick reference).

Coming and going of persons and vehicles → traffic. We obey them → rules. We wear it while riding bikes → helmet. A car driver uses it while driving → seat belt. A path on which we travel → road. Safeness → safety. Colour for ‘stop’ → red; for ‘go’ → green; for ‘proceed with caution’ → yellow. People who control the traffic → police. Every driver should have this certificate → licence. A person who drives a vehicle → driver. A person who goes from one place to another → traveller.

5(Value-based / HOTS) ‘Road safety is of paramount importance.’ Why do you think so? What is your duty as a road user?

Road safety is of paramount importance because thousands of lives are lost or crippled in road accidents every year, and most of these can be prevented by simple awareness and care. As a road user, it is my duty to follow all traffic rules and signals, wear a helmet or seat-belt, never drink and drive, avoid over-speeding and using the phone while driving, respect pedestrians, and encourage others to do the same — because one careless moment can cost a precious life.