With the support of Konya Metropolitan Municipality and the coordination of the Provincial Gendarmerie Command, a meaningful project aims to increase the visibility of farmers who work hard in the fields in traffic. Within the scope of the project launched with the slogan “Wear reflectors, be visible”, a total of 10 thousand reflectors will be distributed to farmers in Konya. This important step aims to minimize traffic accidents involving tractors, especially at night and at dusk.
42 Deaths in the Last Five Years: Tractor Accidents' Painful Toll
The reflector distribution program organized in Meram Hatunsaray Neighborhood within the scope of Traffic and First Aid Week activities revealed the importance of the project. Speaking at the program, Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Major General Lütfi Özkul shared the painful picture that 42 citizens lost their lives and 1.115 citizens were injured in the last five years in Konya in traffic accidents involving tractors. These frightening figures once again revealed how critical the safety of tractors in traffic is.
Gendarmerie Commander Özkul Thanks President Altay
Drawing attention to the fact that more people lose their lives in traffic accidents than in terrorist incidents, Major General Özkul emphasized that tractors and trailers attached to them are vital vehicles for farmers in their areas of responsibility. While explaining the process of implementing the project, Özkul said, “While consulting with our Metropolitan Municipality Mayor regarding these traffic accidents, I said that I rolled over to avoid hitting a trailer. When our Mayor said that he had a similar traffic accident approximately 6-7 months ago, when I brought up the issue of reflectors with him there, he immediately asked us what we could do about it. We said that we could distribute reflectors. I would like to thank our Mayor and his team for their serious support in procuring and distributing 10 thousand reflectors.” This sincere thank you emphasized the importance of cooperation and common purpose.
President Altay: Our Farmers Produce for Türkiye's Food Security
Konya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay stated that Konya is an agricultural city and that farmers from Konya carry out agricultural activities devotedly in a large area of 42 thousand square kilometers not only for their own livelihood but also to ensure the food security of all of Türkiye. Stating that the greatest helpers of agricultural production are tractors and their equipment, Mayor Altay reminded that farmers use the same roads as other vehicles when going to their fields or carrying their products.
President Altay Emphasizes a Small Step That Saves Lives
Drawing attention to the sensitivity of Konya farmers in terms of production, Mayor Altay continued his speech with the following meaningful words: “People who work with soil have great respect for living beings. When the time comes, they know how much an ant or an insect contributes to our lives, so they do the spraying accordingly. Moreover, they should be a part of a job that will make a person’s life difficult. However, these are issues that we do not pay enough attention to, sometimes due to negligence, sometimes due to inaccessibility, and due to the difficulty of obtaining even small parts. I would like to thank Cemil Pasha. Together with our Maksut Director, they are making a very intensive effort to reduce traffic accidents in our city under the leadership of our Governor. As the Metropolitan Municipality, we are always very happy to be a stakeholder that will produce solutions to the problems of our city. Hopefully, this small step will save the lives of many people and prevent our farmer brothers from paying material and moral compensation. I would like to thank our Governor, our Provincial Gendarmerie Commander and his teammates, our police chief, our district governor and everyone who contributed.” These words of President Altay clearly revealed the humanitarian dimension and importance of the project.
Governor Akın Emphasizes the Vital Importance of Simple Precautions
Konya Governor İbrahim Akın, drawing attention to the fact that very small precautions, simple measures can keep a life alive or take it away from life, said, “Konya is an agricultural city. It cannot be done without tractors, but while we travel with our tractors and carry our crops, other vehicles also travel with us on the highway. We have to think about the safety of others as well as our own safety. They also have rights over us. One of the biggest reasons for tractor accidents is that trailers are noticed at the last moment because there are no reflectors in the dark of night. If there is a chance, you can save them, but if you don’t have the chance, God forbid, you may face a serious accident. This is both a sin and a guilty conscience. A simple reflector that we will install is a precaution that could save the lives of many people. I would like to thank our Metropolitan Municipality for their sensitivity and the support they have given us. I would also like to express my gratitude to my esteemed gendarmerie commander,” he said. Governor Akın’s words indicated that the project was a simple but effective precaution.
Following the speeches made at the program attended by Meram District Governor Bayram Yılmaz and Provincial Police Chief Maksut Yüksek, reflectors were personally presented to farmers in Hatunsaray Neighborhood. Within the scope of the “Wear reflectors, be visible” project carried out by Konya Metropolitan Municipality, a total of 10 thousand reflectors will be distributed to tractor owners in other neighborhoods with high traffic density. This project draws attention as an important step aimed at preventing potential accidents by increasing the safety of tractors, which are indispensable to the agricultural sector in Konya.
