The Motor Vehicles Act (MV Act) does not allow any exemptions for ambulance drivers, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Intelligence, T.P. Senkumar has said.
Inaugurating a one-day training programme for ambulance drivers, organised by the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (Natpacp) and the Motor Vehicles Department at Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom, here on Monday, Mr. Senkumar said all MV Act rules and regulations were applicable to ambulance drivers as well except for the Clause 10 of the Act that stipulated that other vehicles should give way for ambulances and fire engines. Stating that accidents involving ambulances were on the rise in the State, Mr. Senkumar also cautioned against misuse of the clause.
Joint Transport Commissioner Syed Mohammed, detailing on the aspects ambulance drivers had to give special attention to, said nine persons had died in accidents involving ambulances till October this year.
Sessions on road regulations and traffic signs, road engineering, vehicle fitness, defensive driving, and the nuances of ambulance driving were held during the workshop.
It was attended by about 70 drivers, including five from the Travancore Charitable Society which offered free ambulance services, nine from the 108 service, and 53 from various hospitals. Natpac Director B.G. Sreedevi also spoke.
