The State government has created Andhra Pradesh Road Safety Fund with an initial allocation of ₹10 crore. The fund would be utilised towards activities of road safety.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Principal Secretary (Transport, Roads and Buildings) Sumita Dawra said the government was according top priority to road safety. Many initiatives, including intensified special dive jointly by the Police and Transport departments, were being taken in that direction.
The government re-constituted the State Road Safety Council with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as Chairman and 31 other members from departments and NGOs, academia and industry, she said, adding, the district- level road safety committees, which would be chaired by district Collectors, were also functioning effectively.
Following suggestions and feedback from the public, the government amended the Motor Vehicle Act. Women usually feel insecure while travelling in autorickshaws. Keeping it in mind, it was made it mandatory for the auto drivers to display their name and other details, including driving licence, prominently in the vehicle, she said.
Safety of their wards going to school is also a concern for parents. The school managements have to maintain registers of the school autos. Even if the autos/vans are not maintained by the school management, the school authorities would have to collect the details of auto/van drivers, she said.
Black spots rectified
Black spots on the national highways and Roads and Buildings Department roads were identified and rectified. As many as 1,113 black spots were identified across the State and 824 were rectified, she said, adding, an App was being developed wherein the citizens can lodge complaints on roads.
Ms. Sumita Dawra, referring to special drive, said that as many as 88,242 road violation cases had been booked during the last four months. Of this, 9,793 violators were prosecuted. It includes drunken driving, not wearing helmet, driving without valid licence etc., she said.
