JHARKHAND: Constable Sumer Chaudhary, posted in Garhwa, spends two hours every evening regulating traffic and educating commuters about road safety near the Lagma petrol pump on NH-39, where fatal accidents caused by wrong-side driving led him to take action beyond his official duties.
Chaudhary performs court duties during the day but, instead of heading home after work, takes to the highway from 4 pm to 6 pm to urge motorists to follow traffic rules, wear helmets and avoid driving on the wrong side.
He also encourages passersby to help accident victims immediately, pointing out that prompt assistance can save lives while the police or an ambulance is on its way.
His decision to intervene followed a message from a friend informing him that another friend had died in an accident at the same spot. The friend asked Chaudhary to make a video to alert people and prevent further tragedies.
Chaudhary, however, felt that posting a video on social media alone would not solve the problem and decided to work on the ground.
“After I noticed that more than eight lives were lost in a month at the same spot due to wrong-side driving, I took it as a mission to stop the deaths at any cost. After a long brainstorming, I decided to launch a road safety awareness campaign,” he said.
“I decided to take the initiative on the ground. I went there, started regulating traffic and educating commuters about safe driving practices,” he said.
Chaudhary said his sole objective was to prevent accidents and save lives. Even saving one life through his efforts, he believes, would be his greatest privilege. He also stresses the importance of bystander assistance, as waiting for the police or an ambulance to arrive can cost precious time.
The campaign gained traction on social media and drew the attention of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
According to Chaudhary, the authority repaired a broken slab over the drain separating the service road from the main road and installed barricades at the point where motorists had been taking the wrong side.
The video also brought appreciation from people across Jharkhand, helping draw greater attention to the road-safety problem. Chaudhary said the impact of the initiative was visible, with commuters gradually beginning to follow traffic rules and accidents declining at the spot.
He said no accident had occurred there since he started the campaign. “It is really satisfying that not a single accident has taken place at the spot since I took the initiative of creating awareness among commuters,” he said.
His efforts have won support from local residents and recognition from senior police officials. Garhwa Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Shekhar rewarded Chaudhary for his commitment, saying his work after official hours had positively influenced commuters and deserved encouragement. The SP described Chaudhary as an inspiration to others through his contribution to society beyond his official responsibilities.
