With mishaps on the highway on the rise, claiming lives, the government is initiating stringent measures to ensure maximum compliance with the road safety norms by vehicle drivers.
According to studies, drunken driving is one of the major reasons for the spurt in road mishaps. On an average three persons are losing lives in road accidents in every two days in the district alone.
As many as 45 persons had lost their lives and another 146 suffered injuries in accidents in January, while the same in February is 37 and 151 respectively. “Strict road safety rules will be enforced in the coming months. A person found guilty of drunken driving will be charge-sheeted and produced before the court. All other violations of safety norms will also be taken a serious view,” N. Sivaramprasad, Deputy Transport Commissioner, Nellore, said. Drunken driving on the National Highway 5, which runs over a stretch of 169 km in the district, has become rampant. The presence of 61 liquor shops along the highway is considered a major threat to road safety. “A report has been prepared on the liquor shops on NH from Kavali to Tada. The issue is being taken up with the Excise Department,” Mr. Sivaramprasad said. Following instructions of the District Collector, a special committee comprising the officials from Police, Transport, R&B, NHAI and 108 services has been formed and an exercise has begun to identify various reasons including the presence of ‘black spots’ on the NH. Overspeeding and driving while speaking on cellphones are also being viewed as a major contributor to the spurt in accidents. People, who drive for 400 to 500 km per day, will be under the scanner as they are among the most vulnerable group for drunken driving.
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N. Sivaramprasad,Deputy Transport Commissioner, Nellore