ISHER SINGH JASROTIA
Some years back, it was believed that the accidents which are on the increase will be reduced especially on the national highways roads and other roads connecting the main road.
During the period 2002-03, when project for Broadway of Four Lane National Highway was undertaken during the regime of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Bajpayee, it was believed that there would be decrease in the accidents but the position remained otherwise. The facts remained still there increase in accidents especially with two-wheelers or four-wheelers, there is no improvement accidents
A motorcyclist or the scooterist or plying the car, do not adhere to the rules and regulations of the transport department. The transport department especially the traffic is also not sincere towards the accident taking place. The driver do not care for the vehicle coming from the opposite side rather he is in hurry to reach his destination and accident is caused. Some vehicles including the buses when overtake the other vehicles, occasionally the accidents do occur resulting thereof loss of precious lives and many a times.
Despite directions issued by the Ministry of Road and Communication for making reforms on the road, from time to time, the orders have not been adhered to resultant thereto accidents have always been on the increase. If we take the numbers alone in 2012, a total of 2214 accidents took place only on the National Highway wherein 498 lost their lives, such a high rate of accident. In 2013, a total of 2161 accidents took place wherein 432 lost their life, the data is increading day by day.
Similarly there has been mishap on the dilapidated roads when the vehicles slipped, thereby killing so many people traveling thereto. If we take the survey of road construction in the NDA regime during the year 2000, unprecedented growth was made in the construction of road and nearly 10 to 15 percentage of expenditure was incurred on the roads. Under the Prime Minister Rural Development, between 2002 to 2005, nearly 6300 kms national highway roads were constructed. But the construction work thereafter remained in the slow profile. Central Government did not pay much heed towards the project of construction thereafter, as a result of which many accidents took place time and again
That now the work of Express Highway i.e Delhi Katra Express High way is in progress and it is not known as to how much time it will take for the completion of the work. Due to traffic jam, there is great problem beign faced by the public/ drvers to ply their respective vehicle
Question in the present day scenario, is not as to who is responsible for the mess, chaos, lawlessness and causes of the accident but as to what measures can be taken and the rules framed therein so that the accidents could be averted and mitigated.
The traffic police, meant to control the accidents, can to a great extent, decrease the accident by imposing strict traffic rules and regulations, if they are sincere in performance of their duty but it is sorry state of affairs that those deployed on the roads and traffic congestion areas, many a times, refuses to take action on the obvious reasons best known to them creating troubles among the masses.
Some year past IGP (Traffic) Basant Rath when he was deployed in Jammu, he was doing the job to the entire satisfaction of the department and public in general. His work was being appreciated by every persons except some unlawful elements i.e younger youth who are driving the vehicles without helmets, they should be aware that bearing of helmet is for their safety, are not adhering to the rules and regulations of the traffic i.e. parking of the vehicles at the places meant for this purpose and if everyone adhere to the traffic rules, the accidents can be reduced to a larger extent.
That similar steps should be taken by at present IGP traffic by framing certain rules and imposing restrictions on the vehicles/ drivers plying the vehicles
The measures which can be taken to stop the accidents as under:
i) Certain rules should be made for plying of the vehicles i.e two wheelers or four-wheelers.
ii) Those plying the two wheelers should restrict their speed; bearing of helmets should be made mandatory and compulsory, as has been the rules in the big cities i.e. Chandigarh & Delhi wherein any body found without helmet is challaned/fined.
iii) Benefits of bearing of helmets should be given wide publicity through media.
iv) Many accidents usually occur on the curb or crossing, hence the vehicles plied by the persons should take note of it and decrease the speed of the vehicles.
v) Accidents also occur when one vehicle is overtaken by the other vehicle coming behind, especially on the national highway.
vi) Those plying the matadors and buses should be strictly penalized which are found over-loaded.
vii) Those incharge of traffic usually leave the defaulting vehicles simply by making challan and imposing fine on them but these defaulters repeat the mistakes and break the traffic rules, hence some stringent rules should be made.
viii) Government in power in consultation with the transport authority should make certain rules for plying the vehicles especially on the national highway and those areas, which are highly populated areas.
It is hoped that a good thing would prevail over every body of society for making stop over the accidents.
(The writer is President of CBSE School, Kathua)