The government is contemplating stern steps, including cancellation of driving licence, against those motorists who indulge in drunk and rash driving and causing fatal road accidents, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said.
Inaugurating a State-level 24th Road Safety Week with the theme “Stay alive, don’t drink and drive” here on Tuesday, Mr. Chandy said the government was forced to step in and take tough decisions overcoming the opposition in view of the recent spurt in accidents and multiple fatalities taking place in road accidents.
Expressing concern over the mounting deaths and accidents in the road network, the Chief Minister said the government cannot be mere spectators as over 4,000 deaths were taking place in the State every year due to road accidents.
‘‘A concerted effort is needed to curb accidents. Rules have to be enforced and it has to be same for all citizens. Traffic rules have to be enforced and vehicle checking needs to be intensified,” he said.
Mr. Chandy said the law-enforcing personnel cannot be blamed for not taking steps to enforce the rule making wearing of helmet mandatory for two-wheeler riders. “There are serious lapses as officials have no freedom. When they try to enforce the rules, lot of complaints come up,” he said.
Stressing the need for stern action against those indulging in rash and drunk driving, the Chief Minister said a concerted effort was needed to bring down road accidents. A joint effort was needed from the police, Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) and Public Works Department in this regard as each of these departments had a role to play in curbing accidents.
At the function, Mr. Chandy handed over Rs.1.10 lakh collected by the staff of MVD’s South Zone for Irfan, the lone survivor of the February 2011 Karikkakom school van tragedy.
Minister for Power and Transport Aryadan Mohammed presided over the function. The Minister also gave away the award for the best KSRTC driver to Thulasidaran Pillai of Kottarakara and to S. Riyas, the best organiser of the Road Safety Club.
