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Brahma Kumaris hosts World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

Nov 18, 2012 News

Most of us may have experienced the shock of losing a relative or friend to road accident.  Road accidents today are one of the leading causes of death across the world.
Every six seconds, there is an injury; every 25 seconds one death.  Some 60 per cent to 80 per cent of the victims are pedestrians, motor-cyclists, and those riding slow moving vehicles such as bicycles.  Hence, most vulnerable are youth, children, and those from middle and low income groups.
In India, 70 per cent of the casualties are in the age group of 15 to 44 years.  With shock, grief, disability, medical burdens, and loss of the breadwinner or young members of the family, the emotional, mental, physical and economical burdens of a road accident are very high.
A study in India and Bangladesh found that at least 50 per cent of families affected by road accidents slip below the poverty line due to such losses.
The human world is gradually waking up to the reality that something needs to be done about this malaise.  Road accidents happen more often with a non-criminal intent.  Our modern lifestyles marked with high competition and material ambitions, fast pace, availability of high speed gadgets, stress and substance abuse has collectively created this increase in road fatalities.
Today, the fatalities are staring back at us through the faces of orphaned children, bereaved parents, physically challenged survivors and lonely spouses. The sirens are ringing “ITS TIME FOR ACTION”.
Considering the gravity of the issue and the need for global action, the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration (UNRSC) in co-ordination with the World Health Organisation declared this decade 2011-2020 as the Decade of Action for Road Safety.
To focus attention on this Decade the Brahma Kumaris is implementing a special project on Road Safety. One of the activities under this project is contributing the power of positive thoughts and pure feelings through meditation to the victims and survivors of road accidents.
A powerful way of doing this will be witnessed today by observance of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. This day declared by the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration coincides with the International Meditation Hour observed by the Brahma Kumaris on the third Sunday of every month.
Today, students of Brahma Kumaris centres worldwide will collectively meditate especially for Road Traffic victims. Many centres would organize local level events wherein any individual or groups interested in joining this endeavour can participate. They will be oriented on how to practice ‘traffic control’ of the mind.
The Brahma Kumaris believes that ‘Actions’ for Road Safety need to be empowered by elevated ‘awareness’.   Awareness could be understood here, as a state where the mind is conscious of what is happening both in the inner self and the outside world and hence there is clarity, calmness and control.  Awareness is to recognize the value of lives, the methods to enhance concentration and to be calm whilst walking or driving, the significance of rules, and the people’s potential of creating safer road journeys.
Those who have been injured in road accidents and face physical challenges also need the support of our vibrations of hope and courage. The survivors, victims and their families all will be benefited by this support from their world family.

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