A number of arterial roads pass through the southern suburbs of Chennai, where a significant number of MTC and other State government bus services ply.
East Coast Road, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Grand Southern Trunk Road, Chennai Bypass, Pallavaram-Thorai- pakkam Radial Road and Velachery Main Road witness high density traffic throughout the day and, sadly, road accidents have become a regular affair on these stretches.
State government buses, especially those of MTC, are often involved in fatal accidents as a result of bad driving practices, mechanical or engineering failure, and also at times, due to poor health of the drivers.
An office-bearer of a trade union at an MTC depot in the southern suburb said that the new models of Ashok Leyland and Tata in the MTC fleet were more powerful and also equipped with power steering. But, unlike other State government buses, MTC vehicles did not always receive the best attention and care, said the official on condition of anonymity.
A police inspector attached to Traffic Police (Investigation) said cases were registered under Sections 279 (rash driving) for accidents involving minor or grave injuries and 304 (a) (causing death by negligence).
In fatal accidents, drivers are produced in court. They are remanded in judicial custody for a couple of days before they get bail. On some occasions, drivers manage to get a bail as soon as they are produced in court.
Soon after the accident, MTC drivers are given station bail — granted by the Investigating Officer at the traffic police station itself. However, their licenses are seized and handed to the Regional Transport Officer.
The officer said the maximum punishment under Section 304 (a) is a jail term for two years, and a fine. The conviction rate is abysmally low compared to the number of fatal accidents that occur every year, the officer said.
