The Hindu : New Delhi News : Traffic police to conduct road safety awareness workshops

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 04, 2007
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Traffic police to conduct road safety awareness workshops

Staff Reporter

‘Blueline bus drivers are one of the target groups’

– PHOTO: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

END OF THE ROAD: Accidents involving Blueline buses like this one here near AIIMS in July last year are a common sight in Delhi.

NEW DELHI: The Delhi traffic police will conduct road safety awareness workshops especially for drivers of Blueline buses involved in fatal accidents or found violating court guidelines.

Commercial vehicle

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M. S. Upadhye on Tuesday said Blueline bus drivers were one of the target groups of road safety awareness programmes organised regularly by the traffic police.

“Now we will concentrate more on the Blueline bus drivers found violating the Supreme Court and High Court guidelines for commercial vehicle drivers,” he said.

During the workshops organised in association with the Union Surface Transport Ministry and the Institute of Road Traffic Education, the drivers will be informed about the effects of alcohol and drugs while driving, road-user behaviour, duties and responsibilities of drivers, vehicle maintenance and the importance of co-existence with other road users.

The decision comes in the wake of a huge public uproar over the death of a boy who was run over by a speeding Blueline bus at Rajouri Garden this past Sunday.

Mr. Upadhye said 3,127 drivers of heavy vehicles were educated about various road safety norms and traffic rules and regulations at the workshops last year.

Insurance

The two-day workshop is organised on a regular basis at the Teen Murti traffic lines. The drivers attending these awareness programmes are paid Rs. 150 in cash, awarded free personal insurance for a year, besides a certificate to encourage greater participation, Mr. Upadhye said, adding that the Road Safety Cell staff also visit CNG stations, bus depots and bus shelters to brief drives of commercial vehicles about safety measures.

Permits

The traffic police have suspended the permits of 70 Blueline buses for violation of various conditions this year so far. Last year, permits of 64 Blueline buses were suspended for their involvement in fatal accidents.

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