The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation has honoured more than 40 bus drivers who maintained accident-free record for five to 22 years at a function organised by the Corporation and the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in connection with the ongoing Road Safety Week celebrations here on Monday.
Addressing the function, Additional Superintendent of Police (ADSP) S. Vellaidurai said that many accidents were caused due to human error and they could be brought down if the drivers maintained a stress-free lifestyle.
It would be extremely difficult to lead a stress-free life in the existing lifestyle, but the drivers could relax their mind by practicing yoga and meditation, he said. He said the drivers should also ensure that the buses were 100 per cent fit before they take the drivers’ seat. Trying to compromise on small defects would lead to major accidents, he said.
Balakrishna Swamy, General Manager, Karaikudi region, exhorted the drivers to take the driver’s seat with self-confidence. Regional Transport Officer J. Sheik Mohamed and V. Saravanan, Deputy Manager, Ramanathapuram Division, advised the drivers not to get angry while driving. They could avert accidents if they conducted themselves in a humane manner, they said.
N. Poovalingam, attached to the Rameswaram depot, honoured last year for serving 21 years without any accident, was honoured this year too for maintaining 22 years of accident- free record. Three other drivers from Rameswaram branch — N. Raveendran, R. Kalidoss and K. Mohamed Rafiq — were also awarded prizes for serving without causing accident for 13, 12 and 10 years respectively.
