India turns to comic books to teach road safety

Schools in India's western state of Gujarat are to be given comic books to teach road safety as the country struggles to tackle chaotic and lethal traffic conditions, officials said Monday. About 125,000 people, or 340 a day, died on India's roads in 2009, according to the latest government statistics, with accidents caused by speeding, careless driving and poor surfaces. The number of children killed is not published, but Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi said the state was determined to cut road deaths among young people. "Instilling traffic sense and restoring discipline among students and vehicle owners is a challenge in itself," Modi told reporters in Ahmedabad city. "Teaching this subject in the schools will lead to developing aptitude among the students who would not violate traffic rules and prevent even their fathers from disobeying the traffic rules." The traffic safety book features animated characters demonstrating how pedestrians can safely negotiate road crossings and other traffic situations.