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STA goes hi-tech for road safety

CUTTACK: Negligent driving is one of the major causes of road accidents in the State and to check it, the State Transport Authority (STA) has obtained a traffic enforcement vehicle called ‘speed interceptor’ to take the road safety enforcements to new heights.

The vehicle fitted with digital video camera, recorder, printer, monitor, spotlights and breath-alcohol analyzer, was procured from the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE), New Delhi.

The vehicle would initially ply between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar on NH-5.

The vehicle having laser-based devices can detect speeding vehicles within a radius of 1 km and can identify the rash and drunken drivers. Its breath alcohol analyzer fitted with DVD recording facilities can measure the exact level of alcohol in the driver’s bloodstream.

The interceptor could be used in all weather and any climatic conditions and at any time of the day, says additional transport commissioner S.K. Mohapatra.

He says the vehicle will also help the department to identify the accident-prone roads and it could also be also used to educate people about the road safety and traffic rules.

While poor road conditions and unfit vehicles are two major causes of road accidents in Orissa, negligent driving is also the main cause of concern.

Transport officials and motor vehicle inspectors feel that with the deployment of interceptor vehicles on accident-prone roads, over speeding, drunken, rash and negligent driving can be checked.

According to sources, at least 7,567 road accidents were registered in the State in 2005 and 7,628 in 2006. While 2,528 persons died and 10,147 were injured in 2005, the year 2006 saw 2563 persons killed and 10,200 left injured in road accidents.

Road accidents in Orissa are becoming more fatal nowadays.

While 26 persons died in every hundred accidents in 1995, the fatality rate increased in the State to 33 in 2006.

The national road fatality rate during the corresponding period increased marginally from 15 to 20, according to sources.

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