MTC's operations safety clinic to interact with drivers

By Akila Dinakar

CHENNAI, AUG. 11. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has formed an operations safety clinic, consisting of senior traffic officials to identify drivers who have high accident risk for one-to-one interaction and counselling. The effort forms part of Road Safety Week being observed from August 20 to 26.

With the MTC operating 2,814 buses running 6.6 lakh kms per day, carrying 45 lakh passengers making 30,000 trips per day, road safety has been one of the main concerns. MTC buses often face public ire for causing accidents, rash driving and building up tension on roads through brazen violation of rules.

Interaction with accident-prone drivers will be held with accident-free drivers for an exchange of information on the causes for accidents and for imparting knowledge on safe and defensive driving measures.

Case studies of major accidents will be thrown to groups of accident-free and accident-prone drivers to make them analyse and suggest remedial measures.

Moreover, the MTC has started Yoga centres at the Head Office, Adyar, K.K. Nagar, Tondiarpet, Ayanavaram and Anna Nagar depots. Here drivers will be given regular meditation and deep relaxation techniques by trained teachers and NGOs.

So far, 2,500 persons had benefitted through Yoga programmes. The MTC Road Safety Patrol team will continuously monitor on the line, drivers violating traffic rules and initiate suitable action on erring drivers.

The Safety Branch reports of the MTC revealed that the total accidents had come down from 6,645 in 1995 to 2,737 in 2000 and the number of fatal accidents had dropped from 209 to 152, ``inspite of increased fleet strength''.

For its safety clinic, the MTC has estimated an expenditure of Rs. 2 lakhs, first-aid training programmes for duty drivers and Rs. 10 lakhs for two specially designed road safety mobile exhibition buses for North and South Chennai besides funding to conduct road safety programmes in schools and colleges, purchase of video cameras and driver-training equipment for training school.

Suggestions to incorporate Scouts, Guides, NSS and Home Guards at accident-prone zones and to encourage safety awards for accident- free drivers have been suggested.

The MTC's road safety bus with a scale model road displaying the four-lane traffic on Anna Salai, a traffic quiz with a sweet as the prize and a simulated animation of a burning vehicle is being taken to various schools of Chennai, Mr. C. Thirumaladimai, Traffic Manager, MTC said.

For the Courtesy Week that follows from August 27 to September 2, Checking Inspectors with `May I Help You' badges will interact with the public. The Branch Managers in each depot will meet all members of the unions and counselling on courteous behaviour will be given to drivers and conductors.

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