Nearly 100 ambulance drivers from various parts of Kozhikode were trained in responsible driving as part of an exclusive road safety workshop organised by the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) here on Friday.
The workshop, which was hosted as part of the continuing road awareness campaigns of NATPAC, mainly stressed the responsibility of ambulance drivers in safekeeping the special privileges vested on them while on duty.
“We have come across several instances where ambulance drivers were held responsible for misusing the service for the transportation of hospital staff or other commuters. Using the emergency services and its privileges for such purposes will only bring down its seriousness and value among fellow motorists,” said T.V. Sasikumar, one of the resource persons who addressed the sessions. He pointed out that the behavioural aspects and the responsiveness of ambulance drivers to emergency situations were crucial in modernising the service.
Drivers' pivotal role
Officials from the Motor Vehicles Departments and trauma care also interacted with the participants and explained the role of ambulance drivers in reducing accident deaths. Most of them stressed the need to reduce the speed of small vehicles altered as ambulances for operating emergency services. They said the situation in Kerala was serious as unsuitable vehicles were being converted into ambulances for illegal operations.
Regional Transport Officer C.J. Paulson opened the workshop. Motor Vehicle Inspector K. Dileep, emergency medicine consultant from Aster MIMS Dr. V. Jinesh, Kerala Management Association trainer K. Anil Kumar and NATPAC resource person T.V. Satheesh handled different sessions.
