Mumbai: NGO steps in to help reduce traffic deaths

Not only has the traffic department got down to blocking a couple of the citys deadliest spots for starters a Mumbaibased NGO will be training shopkeepers and hawkers around these spots on post accident response all thanks to middays recent road safety campaign Killer RoadsUnited Way Mumbai UWM a nonprofit organisation which is part of the 130yearold United Way movement spanning 41 countries has been working handinhand with the traffic department and Motor Vehicle Department to educate road users and improve post crash care response during the golden hourUnited for Road Safety URS is a special community impact initiative aimed at addressing various components of road safety Since July 2016 this NGO has been working closely with the departments concerned Under this project 5954 youths have been trained in safe twowheeler riding skills via 200 training sessionsJeevan Doot volunteers train those closest to accident sites on how to help victimsDirector UWM Ajay Govale said Many people lose their lives every year in road accidents the world over Timely and appropriate intervention by first respondents can go a long way in preventing these deaths Whatever is done or left undone during the first few minutes after a crash can determine largely whether the victim will survive or not We are enabling those who spend a significant amount of time of the roads thanks to their job profiles as well as everyday citizens by imparting critical training on first responseGovale added In our pilot phase of the Jeevan Doot initiative we will be covering six black spots in the city We have also gone through middays reports about other spots in the suburbs and will cover these in our next phaseAccording to officials from UWMJeevan Doot is a project under the aegis of United for Road Safety and is powered by Tata Motor Finance Ltd As per statistics the number of accidentprone spots in Maharashtra has gone up by 100 with the state registering 1324 accident prone spots in 2018 compared to 634 last year according to a report by a panel formed by the Supreme Court Accidentprone spots or black spots are areas which witness five or more deadly accidents in three yearsThe state ranks third in the country with about 12250 road fatalities every year With 51 black spots Mumbai ranks sixth on the list Rural parts of Nashik district have the highest number of black spots The term Golden Hour refers to the critical period between an accident and the time the victim receives medical aid It is well established that the sooner the victim receives medical attention the higher the chances of survivalSion luxury bus stop becomes training groundThis spot was identified thanks to a statistical update shared by the Mumbai Traffic Police on the list of the identified 51 black spots in the city As per the report Sion luxury bus stop has reported 19 grievous accidents leaving 20 people badly injured The increased number of accidents and injuries led the NGO to take up this spot as one of the Jeevan Doot training spotsUWM has mobilised and trained 18 Jeevan Doots who comprise people from the local community shopkeepers youths from mitra mandals and teachers from local anganwadis training them on how to help road accident victimsUWM has on board Life Supporters Institute of Health Sciences a wellknown training agency Expert doctors trained all the first responders in basic first aid Doctors from the 108 Ambulance service talked about the free service and basic information to give while placing a call The Mumbai Traffic police talked about Good Samaritan Notification of the Supreme Court and encouraged all first respondents to come forward to help accident victimsIn March 2016 the Supreme Court had approved guidelines issued by the Centre for the protection of Good Samaritans or first respondents from the police or any other authorityCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates