Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Overloaded auto-rickshaws threaten road safety

G. Ravikiran

VIJAYAWADA: Awareness programmes on road safety conducted by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) do not have a lasting impact, as public memory is short. The RTA officials have found out that awareness programmes conducted every year fail to generate the desired response. They have hit upon the idea that permanent programmes will keep the public alert and well informed about safety rules.

That road safety consciousness is minimal has become all the more clear after the recent accident on Gannavaram-Nuzvid Road when an overloaded auto-rickshaw collided with a truck. Three of the eight persons travelling in the auto-rickshaw died and others sustained injuries.

Novel programme

The problem of overloading and its danger to road safety came up for discussion at a meeting that Collector Navin Mittal held with transport officials and traffic police. It was felt that some novel programme would be necessary to ensure that the public respond positively to road safety awareness drives. Later, the RTA officials came up with the idea of conducting awareness programmes every month.

Despite repeated warnings, the drivers of auto-rickshaws continue overloading of their vehicles beyond the `Four in All' rule. Deputy Transport Commissioner M. Ratna Manikyam and transport officials caught 10 auto-rickshaws and immobilised them for several days. The vehicles were parked at the RTA's fitness centre and the drivers booked for violating the permit limit of loading.

Ms. Manikyam says that the auto-rickshaw drivers have been warned not to entertain more than three persons, but the problem of overloading continues. "Six to eight persons travel and some sit on either side of driver with their bodies partly hanging out. Unless people take it as a social responsibility, the problem will not be solved," she says.

In the first week of July, the State Government is going to conduct `Safety Always for All Roads' (Safar) with the sole aim of educating people not to hazard dangerous driving methods. Besides this, the RTA has decided to make road safety awareness a permanent programme. The problem of overloading of auto-rickshaws would be the main focus of these programmes.

"We are planning to conduct awareness rallies or meetings every month. The idea is to leave road safety rules firmly etched in public memory," says Ms. Manikyam. There is also a proposal to rope in organisations like Rotary International and Lions Clubs. Unless the general public is actively involved in this exercise, road safety continues to be a casualty.

Last year, Safar programmes were held for over a month when different departments were involved to generate a public debate on road safety. But this time the Safar programme will be conducted for a week in July.

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