License-seekers at K.K. Nagar RTO have to give a personal undertaking on road safety measures
The next time you visit the K.K. Nagar Regional Transport Office (RTO) for getting a licence, make sure you give a personal commitment towards road safety. The officials at the RTO have been asking applicants to fill in a card with an undertaking on following traffic rules.
On a daily basis, over 150 applicants visit the K.K. Nagar RTO for getting a new licence, licence renewal and transfer. “The card contains space to fill the applicant’s name, e-mail address and their two personal commitments towards road safety,” said V. Madhavan, motor vehicle inspector at the K.K. Nagar RTO.
The project, which is the brainchild of K. Mahadevan, a petroleum retailer, is being carried out in collaboration with the Transport Department. “In the existing scenario, there is no process to evaluate how much the applicant knows about road safety. Now, road accidents pose a higher threat than heart attacks. Through the cards, we try to ensure applicants think about the mistakes they make,” said Mr. Mahadevan.
The project was initiated in June this year. “Some of the new licence applicants were flabbergasted when they saw the card. They did not know what to write. But some others were keen and wrote about wearing a helmet and not speaking on the phone while riding. Some others promised they would fasten the seat belts while driving,” said Mr. Madhavan.
There are a total of 11 RTOs in the city and on an average, 15,000 applicants are given licences every month. “We also follow up on the commitment cards. As the applicants’ e-mail address is provided, we send them mails related to road safety, regularly,” said Mr. Mahadevan.
In the coming months, the RTO also plans to take the cards to schools and IT companies. “In schools, it is a measure for early intervention. The average age group of IT workers is 25 to 30 and the maximum number of accident victims is of this age group,” said Mr. Mahadevan.
People react to good suggestions and take them through various methods.
Some doesn't need prompting; some need prompting; some need coaxing;
some needs strictness. Hence this is good one way. Moreover at homes and
schools (even in offices) people should be made aware that "law-abiding
and civil behaviour at public places are one's birthright and they would
exercise their this right come what may".
What ever said and done, the Govt should look into the infrastructure.
(BAD ROAD CONDITION), which is the cause of most of the road accidents.
Yes people should follow rules, so the Government. Worst are the MTC
buses / Call Taxi's & Autos which flout the rule, leading to accidents.
It is better the Govt tightens the rules and enforces strictly without
room for bribing.
What about those already holding license; all personnel holding license should be directed to sign the personal undertaking. Also,a smart chip system like Bengaluru should be introduced. The license will have a smart chip contain personal information and information regarding previous offences if any can be accessed by the traffic police from a hand held pod. Violaton of traffic rules (any kind)repitive in nature, a maximum of 3 for minor offence and one for major offence should should entail cancellation of driving license and barring from holding license for life.
Offence like driving without a valid DL should entail ineligibility to hold DL for life. Such stern measures will curb the traffic violations to a great extent.
Roads in Chennai are filled up by too many motor vehicles. Every
rider/driver of a motor vehicle tries to keep up certain speed ignoring
all obstacles. It is time to fix a limit on number of motor vehicles on
roads. This is the main cause for all accidents.
What good is that? So what if they don't obey the laws? What sanctions do we have in
place? What if one of them happens to be the son of a VIP? As long as there is no serious
law enforcement all of this is just a gimmick.
I hope the RTO officials and inspectors also take a SOLEMN VOW NOT TO TAKE BRIBE FOR ISSUING LICENCES AND FITNESS CERTIFICATES.
It is a good change. We can expect at least 10 percent to follow the
rules. A lot has to be done to make our roads safe enough for driving
and for the pedestrians. It is good road manners to slow down and
stop your vehicle when you see a pedestrian trying to cross the road.
This practice just does not exist in our state. In fact when you try
to slow and stop your vehicle, the pedestrian cannot take even note of
it because he is just not used to it. A sorry state of affairs. Then
we have youngsters riding those high powered bikes especially on
holidays like men possessed. If one carefully notices them, most of
them look like jokers straight out from the comics. This goes to say
that either they have some political clout or belong to the so called
slums. One may surprised to note that a few of them are the children
of the police force. So what do we do? Watch them and keep mum
because ours is a democratic country.
Great Initiative. Thanks to the RTO. I think, few driving licenses should be permanently cancelled when found in negligent driving, causing death, drink and drive etc. So the message spreads very fast and our Indian Roads become really safe. Even though there are several reasons for accidents, the basic reason is we are missing a word 'patience' in life - as a result, killing others and self on roads.
But do they know the rules? Most RTOs do not even have a book of rules. Some arbitrary "xerox" shop outside usually has a sheet of archaic signs, and that's all that is needed! How many ignorant souls "think" the hazard lights in a car are meant for signaling "going straight"! There are many rules that are flouted with the assumption that such flouting is "normal". This solution is like ointment for cancer!
Good initiative and well done. We should educate other road users as well, for example the lorry (water tanker) and truck drivers. Keep up the good work.
Kumar
While getting the undertaking from road users is a good start, it will
not amount to much if enforcement of rules and merciless punishment of
violators does not happen. Some years back, a fine of Rs. 2000 for those
who jump the red light made news. Lack of enforcement has meant that
this rule exists only on paper, with routine violations happening every
day. It is sad that the unconscionable number of road deaths is not
jolting the traffic police yet to come down with an iron hand on this
problem. TN especially is a "top state" for road fatalities.
Progressive relaxation in enforcement of traffic rules is
the root cause of the chaos of the problem. Where else in the world can
one ignore traffic rules right in front of a cop and get away with it? A
case in point is the blatant disregard of rules regarding wearing
of helmets and seat-belts. A zero tolerance policy will be far more effective.
What about enforcing the road safety rules on the road? Without that nothing will change. In other countries in the West, your driving school instructor will teach the learner drivers not only driving but also the importance of rules of driving on the road not only for his own safety but also for the safety of others, i.e. use of indicator lights, rear- and side-view mirrors. I have the experience when my wife was to take driving lessons. I was sitting in the back seat. I found that the driving instructor of the driving school in Rohini Sector-7 did not know any road safety rules. He was only telling how to keep the steering straight. No lane driving, no viewing in the rear or side mirrors and no use of side turn indicators. In addition, the policeman on traffic duty must also be given refresher courses of safe driving and their implementation, particularly road discipline.
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