He was addressing the closing ceremony of the state-level function organised on the occasion of 19th National Road Safety Week here. Expressing his concern over the increasing number of fatalities in road accidents, he said more than 3,500 deaths were reported in Haryana due to road accidents every year.

Treatment of the road accident victims was a major concern for the government as well as citizens, he said.

“If all the people follow traffic rules and do not allow their young children to drive, many such tragic incidents could be avoided,’’ he remarked. Revealing the steps taken by the state government for improving the standard of safety on roads, the Chief Minister said the government would set up five driver training schools, including three big ones, involving an expenditure of Rs 40 crore in the state so that efficient drivers can be produced.

Besides, modern equipment of road safety would be made available to traffic police, especially in the NCR region, where there is heavy traffic congestion due to rapid increase in the number of vehicles on the roads, he said.

State Transport Minister Mange Ram Gupta said self-discipline was the best way to avoid road accidents. He said sleepiness and consumption of alcohol were the two major reasons for road accidents and these can be avoided. Director General of Haryana Police Ranjeev Dalal said as part of road safety measures, the police had been provided 10 interceptors which helped in issuing four lakh challans to the violators and Rs 14 crore were recovered as fine.