Follow Us
Accidents are common nowadays and one of the major reason behind them is improper implementation of road safety guidelines. The police can play a vital role in road safety but it needs honesty and integrity in the department. Taking bribe from people who break traffic rules and leaving them without giving any punishment has become a new normal in our country. Even if the police try to take action against wrong doers, they find it impossible because of political or social links of the latter. People often flaunt their links and pressurise honest officials. Despite strict guidelines under the Motor Vehicle Act, it is their non-implementation which plays spoilsport. If road safety laws are implemented without interference then even a responsible citizen can also enforce road safety measures.
Ritu Priya
Need proper resources to end traffic violations
The enforcement of road safety rules and regulations is a multi-dimensional issue. It not just involves detection of violations but also interception of offending drivers, processing of infringement notices and in some cases, providing evidence in the court. All this requires use of advanced technologies, including an intelligent transport system (ITS) that has potential to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the police. Due to lack of resources, it has become very difficult for the traffic police to enforce road safety regulations. By imposing fines and penalties, the police can collect revenue for the government but it cannot bring a change in mind of people. Moreover, increase in fine encourages corruption. There are numerous reasons why drivers do not comply with the safety rules and one has to devise a different strategy for greater compliance of guidelines. There is need to deploy more cops at every intersection as the Ludhiana police either prefers to stay indoors or issue challans.
Ravi Chander Garg
Introduce automated traffic control system
The Police Department must ensure that traffic rules are not defied by muscle power and political pressure should be overruled by the authorities concerned. A proper traffic regulation system must be in place. All traffic lights should be made functional and flood lights must be installed at accidents prone areas. Open manholes and potholes on roads should be repaired at the earliest as numerous casualties occur due to them. CCTV cameras should also be fitted on roads to ensure safety of commuters. An automated challan system can be introduced to punish traffic violators. A traffic congestion control system must be in place to give live updates to commuters. To make roads safer, the general public should obey traffic rules and authorities must ensure their strict implementation.
Karanvir Singh
Save precious lives by taking precautions
Among different modes of transportation, including railways, waterways, airways and roadways, the latter is most convenient and frequently used. Thus it is the prime responsibility of traffic police to ensure safety of people. The rate of fatalities in road accidents, especially in Ludhiana is increasing every year. We can save precious lives just by taking some precautions, including installation of speedometers on roads, smart traffic management system at intersections, stern action against drivers speaking on mobile phone while driving, imposing heavy penalty on violators, cooperation of parents of kids below 18 years, separate lanes for cyclists and two-wheelers, provision of first aid clinic, impounding vehicles of drunk drivers, regular lectures in schools on road safety and removing street vendors from roads, among others.
Dr Mohd Saleem Farooqui
Educate drivers
Road safety measures are essential to ensure there is no fatal mishap while commuting. In Ludhiana, one can find roads full of pedestrians, cyclists, two-wheelers, four-wheelers and carts, among others. Smooth flow of traffic and implementation of guidelines is the responsibility of the government and local authorities. An accident can change life not just of a victim forever but also of his family and friends. Traffic management should begin with educating people about laws which make them safe on roads. Pedestrians must always use the footpath and two-wheeler driver and a pillion rider must wear helmets. Pepople not wearing seat belt, using mobile phone and driving vehicle under the influence of alcohol should be dealt sternly. One must drive within speed limit prescribed by the traffic police.
FARZANA KHAN
Enforce road safety laws
The Traffic Police must enforce road safety guidelines as they are being paid for it. Accidents occur due to negligence of drivers and poor implementation of road safety laws. The police must ensure that everyone, including pedestrians and vehicle drivers do not flout rules at will. Drivers should follow road signs, park vehicle at designated space, drive within speed limit, give passage to pedestrians and inform the police in case of any accident so that timely medical aid can be given to the victim. Strict action should be taken against defaulters and must be punished without delay. There is feeling among the general public that violators can escape by bribing the cops. Installation of streetlights and the CCTV cameras also come handy. The police must take steps in educating general public regarding road safety rules.
Dr G Dev
Indians ignorant about good road habits
I was reading an article by H Kishie Singh that world’s worst drivers are found in India. Indians are totally ignorant about good road habits. We take pride in flouting road, including jumping red lights, changing lanes without using an indicator and overtaking on a single lane, among others. There is a need to sensitise people on the importance of road safety. Most of the traffic violators are youngsters. Thus it is the duty of parents to make sure that their kids drive vehicles with responsibility. Even school and college authorities should organise seminars, poster-making and slogan-writing competitions to create awareness among youngsters. The Traffic Police should be very strict while implementing rules. No leniency should be shown towards traffic violators. The penalty for violations should be hefty. We need to understand that we are losing youth in road accidents.
Bir Devinder Singh Bedi
Take measures to check road mishaps
The total number of deaths in road accidents remains unacceptably high at 1.24 million per year worldwide. Road mishaps are leading cause of death among youth aged between 15 years and 29 years. Kids, pedestrians, cyclists and older people are among the most vulnerable on roads. More than 1.3 lakh Indians die in accidents thus giving India a dubious honour of topping the global list of road fatalities. Reckless driving, including use of mobile phones while driving, non use of helmets and seatbelts, jumping traffic signals and over speeding, among others lead to road accidents. Helmet should be made mandatory for two-wheelers drivers as it reduces risk of head injury which can prove fatal. Wearing helmets reduces the risk and severity of injury by about 72 per cent and likelihood of death by 39 per cent as per safety manuals of the WHO. Seatbelts should be compulsory and children of any age should not be seated in front seats. Speed monitoring cameras, radars and speed limiting governors in vehicles are useful devices in enforcing speed limits. Drunken driving should be strictly prohibiting and driving licence should be suspended for six months. People should be sensitised and made aware regarding road safety, as measures taken by the government cannot bring vast change. Even the Ministry of Road and Transport should advertise road safety guidelines.
Dr Jasdeep Kaur
Keep a record of drivers
Record of each person should be maintained. Record keeping will help to know traffic obeyers and such people should be rewarded in public to set an example. People with the worst traffic record should be given heaviest punishment, including cancellation of their driving licence. Records should be in e-form so that they it can be assessed from anywhere. As people will have their own record they would think twice before breaking traffic rules.
Ekroop Kaur
Police should be role model
The police should set an example in front of public and should follow rules and regulations themselves. In India, people do not follow traffic rules and numerous lives are lost in road mishaps. If the cops follow every guideline then a day will come, when people will be inspired to follow them and will understand the importance of traffic regulations. Vehicles driven by the police should have pollution certificate, valid insurance and registration certificate. The police needs to act as a role model to bring down road fatalities.
Mehimajeet Singh Ahuja
Law should be equal for all
Roads accidents are a common feature due to poor driving and badly maintained roads and vehicles. Newspapers are filled with news of accidents and precious lives lost. Nobody takes traffic rules and guidelines seriously. People jump red lights to escape jam. Underage driving also needs to be curbed in India.Many lives are shattered by underage drivers who drive vehicles at full speed. Parents should guide kids and ensure that they do not drive vehicles without obtaining driving licence. Higher authorities should also be strict on parents of underage drivers. The Traffic Police should impart training of road safety measures to masses at regular intervals. Road safety programmes, seminars and workshops should be conducted in the city to educate the people.There should be strict punishment for offenders. All regulations should be equal for all and nobody should be allowed to misuse traffic rules.
Kalpna Maurya
6
7