Jackie Shroff to visit schools, colleges to promote road safety

The actor, brand ambassador of a government campaign, will visit schools and colleges to spread awareness on the issue

A day after Jackie Shroff was 'accidentally' made the brand ambassador for the ongoing Road Safety Fortnight Campaign 2012, it was revealed that the star will tour schools and colleges in Maharashtra to educate young people on the importance of safe driving.


Spreading the message: College students during the road safety
campaign with the traffic police at Marine Drive yesterday.

On January 3, MiD DAY had reported how the appearance of the actor at the inauguration of the event at Marine Lines caught state government and RTO officials off-guard. It emerged later that Western India Automobile Association (WIAA) had invited Jackie for the event, allegedly without informing the transport department. Amidst chaos, the actor was later felicitated as the brand ambassador for the campaign by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

Head start
"Jackie will soon be seen distributing helmets to people and talking about the need of safe driving," said Nitin Dossa of WIAA, who claimed that government officials were informed well in time.


Jackie Shroff at the launch of the event on Monday. Pics Bipin Kokate

Sources in the regional transport office (RTO) said that now that he has been made the brand ambassador, Jackie would be taken for particular activities depending on the requirement. "People would easily identify him and so he will be asked to accompany us wherever needed," said an RTO officer, who didn't wish to be named.

However, the officials refused to divulge the star's exact itinerary.

"Jackie Shroff has accepted to be a part of this campaign out of sheer goodwill and for a good cause," said SK Sharma, transport secretary. The state government confirmed that there is no question of paying Jackie as he was recommended by WIAA.

"I will definitely go wherever I am asked to for this campaign. People should drive patiently rather than honking constantly. Just because they have been given a licence doesn't mean they should drive dangerously," the actor said.


MiD DAY's report on Monday

Jackie will be:
>>u00a0Educating school and college students and creating awareness on safe driving
>>u00a0Distributing ISI-marked helmets that have now been made mandatory for two-wheeler riders
>>u00a0Asking taxi and auto drivers in particular to avoid rash driving