From the Archives (September 18, 1969): Safety on roads(From an Editorial)

September 18, 2019 12:15 am | Updated 03:14 pm IST

Even though the number of vehicles plying in Madras is piffle compared to what obtains in other metropolises like New York, Tokyo, London, Paris and Rome the death rate on Madras roads is among the highest in the world. This is mainly because of lack of discipline on the part of all classes of road-users. Traffic regulations are more honoured in the breach than the observance. With bus operators, taxi-drivers, “private” motorists, cyclists and pedestrians all trying to monopolise the road as if it belonged to them alone, it is a wonder that the death rate is not higher than the 0.4 or so for 100 vehicles that it now is. Every year, the Madras Police Department organises a Road Safety Week to arouse the traffic conscience of the citizenry but that does not seem to be making any tangible impact, judging by the steadily increasing toll of the roads. Traffic accidents have doubled in the last decade and road deaths trebled. There are twice the number of vehicles on the roads to-day compared to ten years ago but road discipline has not kept pace with the increase in traffic. It is to bringing about this discipline to which the Police authorities should address themselves on a priority basis. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. P. Kuppuswami, on his return after attending the International Symposium on Traffic Education at Naples recently, stressed the importance which was being attached in advanced countries to giving formal traffic education to the people. Road disciplines were taught to children in schools and would-be motorists had to “graduate” through recognised driving schools to get driving licences. Mr. Kuppuswami suggested that a similar system of compulsory traffic education be introduced in India. The Hindu too has for long advocated the imparting of traffic education in schools and making it compulsory for licence-seekers to pass a written examination in the rules of the road, in addition to the driving test. In many advanced countries, applicants for driving licences have also to undergo physical fitness — particularly eyesight — tests. This system should be introduced here also, specially in the case of drivers of commercial vehicles, like buses, taxis and lorries.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.