The Hindu : Front Page : Erring drivers being disqualified

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Wednesday, Sep 06, 2006

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Erring drivers being disqualified

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

Drive is on at the National Highway stretch from Ernakulam to Palakkad

Thiruvananthapuram: The Motor Vehicles Department is on a novel enforcement drive to disqualify those caught for speeding, rash, negligent and drunken driving or similar serious traffic violations from taking the wheels.

"Under this experimental drive to curb accidents, there will be no compounding of fines any more. After serving mandatory notices, the erring persons will be disqualified from taking vehicles to roads anymore," Secretary, State Transport Authority, Alex Paul, told The Hindu .

Already 58 licences have been suspended in Ernakulam district, 85 in Thrissur and 65 in Palakkad since the drive was launched a month ago. Notices have been served on 158 more motorists in Ernakulam, 63 in Thrissur and 47 in Palakkad, asking them to explain why their licences should not be suspended.

"The suspension will be for one month. The novel enforcement drive has been found very effective in checking the mounting number of road accidents in Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad districts," he added.

The enforcement drive is being taken up on a 130-km stretch of the National Highway passing through Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad districts. This stretch has been divided into four zones — Aroor-Angamaly; Angamaly-Ambaloor; Amballoor-Wadakkancherry; and Wadakkanchery-Palakkad — for effective enforcement of the drive.

Squads, led by a motor vehicle inspector and comprising three assistant motor vehicle inspectors, equipped with speed radars, patrol the four zones for the enforcement of the drive. Two squads will be present in any of the four stretches between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Those overtaking through the left side, not dipping headlights for oncoming and carrying more load than permitted are also being booked.

Regional Transport Officer, Ernakulam, M.N. Prabhakaran, said the drive had been effective and has reduced speeding cases and curbed to some extent rash, negligent or drunken driving in the commercial capital of the State. All classes of motorists, including people drawn from all strata of society, figured in the list of those whose driving licence had been suspended, he added.

Officials at the Motor Vehicles Department headquarters in the capital are monitoring the enforcement drive daily. "We will soon review the drive in three districts and take steps to extend it to other places," Mr. Paul said.

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