Kerala   

Bid to curb road accidents

The city police have stepped up their drive to prevent road accidents. Rash driving and speeding have been found to be the main reason behind the increase in accidents.

Nearly 165 persons were killed in accidents in the city in 2006. Of these, 64 were two-wheeler riders. Two-wheeler riders were involved in 1,106 road accidents of the total 1,696 accidents in the previous year.

Official records reveal that 136 persons were killed in road accidents in 2003. The figure stood at 120 in 2004 and 118 in 2005.

Sources in the department said that a large number of road users, particularly two-wheeler riders, autorickshaw drivers and private bus drivers, were found violating traffic rules. Many of them managed to evade the law in spite of stringent legislations enacted to deal with offenders. Interestingly, officials admit that 50 per cent of the valid licence holders do not even have basic knowledge about traffic rules.

Now the Government has decided to step in to curb the menace of traffic violation. It has directed senior police officers to be stern in dealing with traffic rules and regulations from August 1.

City Police Commissioner Balram Kumar Upadhyay said checking of vehicles would be made stringent. The driver and the passenger in the front seat of the four-wheeler would have to wear a seat-belt.

Wearing seats belts increases the chance of survival during a collision just as a helmet prevents head injuries. Already the traffic police are strictly implementing the helmet rule in the city.

Use of mobile phones while driving will be strictly barred. Those found violating the rule would be fined Rs. 1,000 under Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Drunk driving would be sternly dealt with by charging the offender under Section 185. Three- and four-wheeler goods carriers should ensure that the goods do not protrude. Pedestrians have been advised to follow rules. Jaywalking is also contributing its share to increasing accidents in the city.

Officials said that unless the Central Public Works Department, Public Works Department of the State Government and City Corporation took a concerted effort to repair the dilapidated roads, it would be not be easy to bring down the number of accidents in the city. Most of the roads are narrow and almost of all them have developed potholes, they said.

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