Kaski District Police Office Launches SLC Program for Pedestrian Safety

Pokhara. The Kaski District Police Office has initiated the SLC (Stop, Look, Cross) program, specifically targeting pedestrian safety.

The program was organized at the Baglung Bus Park in Pokhara, in collaboration with the Community Service Center and Community Police Service, Pokhara-1, Bagar, focusing on how pedestrians can cross the road safely.

Superintendent of Police Nabin Karki, head of the Kaski District Police Office, informed that this program was launched with a special focus on the stretch of road from Zero KM to Hemja in Pokhara, as this area records a higher incidence of accidents involving pedestrians crossing the road.

He stated that 40% of the total fatalities in accidents in Kaski are pedestrians, and of those, 50% of the pedestrian deaths occurred on the Zero KM to Hemja section. This alarming statistic is the reason why the SLC program for pedestrian safety was organized in this area.

"Upon analyzing the overall accident data for Kaski District Police Office, we found that a large number of fatalities were pedestrians," he said. "We launched this campaign with the belief that teaching pedestrians safe crossing methods will help minimize losses." He added that this campaign would be continued with the support and cooperation of all stakeholders.

The program saw the participation of the Kaski District Traffic Office, Bagar Ward Police Office, local representatives, the Community Service Center Bagar, and students from Bindhyabasini Secondary School, Barpatan, and Sagarmatha.

Participants taught road crossing techniques while holding placards with messages like: "Don't use mobile phones while crossing the road," "Don't cross the road in a hurry," "Walk on the right edge of the road where there is no footpath," "Don't leave children alone on the road," and "Look far right and left for vehicles before crossing the road." 

Prior to this, the Kaski District Police Office had also run a similar campaign at Milanchowk, Hemja, in collaboration with the Community Service Center and Community Police Service, Hemja.

The program was chaired by Ram Prasad Adhikari, President of the Community Service Center and Community Police Service, Bagar, and was moderated by Secretary Krishna Bahadur Tamang.