Chandigarh, Oct 22 — The Punjab Police’s Traffic and Road Safety Wing has launched a statewide “Hauli Chalo” (Drive Slowly) campaign aimed at improving road safety in rural areas, particularly for farmers using tractor-trolleys.
The initiative was inaugurated by Special DGP A.S. Rai at the Bhago Majra Toll Plaza, where reflector stickers were affixed to tractor-trolleys as part of the campaign’s first phase. The project, supported by Yara India and implemented through the State Safety Force (SSF), will initially cover nearly 4,100 km of Punjab’s rural road network.
According to police officials, around 30,000 tractor-trolleys will be fitted with reflector stickers to improve night visibility and prevent collisions. “This is not merely a safety initiative but a public awareness movement,” said Special DGP Rai. “Unlit tractor-trolleys have been a major cause of night-time accidents in rural areas. These reflectors will make them visible from a distance, significantly reducing the risk.”
Data from 2017 to 2022 records 2,048 tractor-trolley accidents in Punjab, leading to 1,569 deaths — most of them farmers. The state government, officials said, treated the figures as a warning sign and responded with policy measures focused on awareness and prevention.
In 2024, Punjab reported a marked decline in road accident fatalities, particularly within the first 24 hours of crashes. Police attributed the improvement to a combination of enforcement, engineering, and public outreach measures adopted by the government.
With the harvesting season under way, the campaign’s timing is significant, officials noted, as fog and low visibility often increase accident risks during early morning and late evening hours. The government said the initiative also ties into Punjab’s broader effort to link safety with the dignity of the farming community.
Under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the campaign seeks to promote what officials call a culture of “Safe Farming, Safe Farmers.” The effort, they added, is a step toward changing driving behaviour in rural Punjab, where slow and cautious driving could save lives.
