For the last seven months, four senior police officials were killed and as many were injured after the department vehicles met with accidents in different parts of the State.
The reasons for this were faulty driving by vehicles coming from the opposite direction and lack of safety features in police vehicles. These accidents have triggered the Home Ministry to contemplate enhancing safety features in police vehicles.
The Communication, Logistic and Modernisation wing of the police department recently submitted a proposal to the Director-General and Inspector-General of Police to replace old vehicles, as majority of them do not have lifesaving safety features.
Currently, the State police department has 12,464 vehicles, including two-wheelers (procured for patrolling purposes), and light and heavy motor vehicles (LMV/HMV). Of this, over 70% are cars and jeeps. Of them, at least 70% lack safety features such as anti-lock braking system and airbags. And, decade-old vehicles do not have disc brakes.
Most of the officers work round the clock, and a majority of them leave offices/workplaces after dinner. Subsequently, the risk factor on highways are high for them. This has prompted the department to enhance the safety features in their vehicles, sources said.
According to sources in the Home Department, Home Minister G. Parameshwara is also keen on the issue.
Soon, a survey on the safety features in police vehicles will be conducted, Ashit Mohan Prasad, Additional Director-General of Police (Communication, Logistic and Modernisation), said.
Speaking to The Hindu over phone from Bengaluru on Thursday, he said: “I will write to representatives of the companies to study safety features in vehicles.”
The department recently procured 100 vehicles with all safety features for highway patrolling. It will replace/procure vehicles as per the Directorate General of Supply and Disposal (DGS&D) rules and restrictions, Mr. Prasad said.
