Assam : Step up awareness to curb road accidents- DC Adil Khan

Chairing the meeting of DRSC, Adil Khan, DC, Hailakandi, Assam  directed the district transport officer and traffic police to step up awareness on traffic rules and regulations to curb road accidents.

Hailakandi

Deputy Commissioner, Hailakandi, Adil Khan convened a meeting of the District Road Safety Committee (DRSC) to discuss a gamut of road safety measures here today.

Chairing the meeting of DRSC, Khan directed the district transport officer and traffic police to step up awareness on traffic rules and regulations to curb road accidents. In this connection, he urged the officials to observe the Road Safety Week beginning April 23 in a befitting manner by involving all stakeholders.

Underscoring the need for taking adequate measures to minimise road fatalities, Khan asked the PWD (Rural Roads, State Roads and NH) and concerned departments to identify vulnerable road segments, erecting signages at important intersections, installation of speed governors and generating awareness for making roads safer in the district.

Advocating for strict enforcement of safety rules on roads and stringent punishment  for those flouting rules, the Deputy Commissioner cum Chairman directed the DTO, traffic and police to check overloading in vehicles, over speeding, drunken driving, rash driving, using mobile phones while driving and making mandatory wearing of helmet by both rider and pillion rider.

Khan urged the road owning departments to prepare both short and long term plans for devising effective and sound road engineering design and techniques to minimise road mishaps.“Identification and rectification of improper designs, poor quality of roads, black spots et al must be carried out to make the roads safer and thus minimise the loss of precious lives,” he added.

The Deputy Commissioner cum Chairman directed the concerned departments to identify causes of road accidents to build a data base and adopt strategies in areas of engineering and emergency care in case of road accidents. “Concerted efforts must be made to prevent road accident rates and deaths by identifying the causes of road mishaps,” he said.

Khan asked the concerned departments to prepare an effective District Road Safety Plan, including Road Safety Cell with all earnestness and seriousness.

The meeting discussed the proposal submitted by the health department for setting up of a trauma centre for quick treatment of accident cases.

It discussed threadbare about the Solatium scheme, 1989 under which hit-and-run victims are paid compensation up to Rs 25,000. Khan asked the DTO to issue notification to this effect and to incorporate the members accordingly. The Deputy Commissioner is the Chairman, Claims Settlement Commissioner with Divisional Manager, New India Assurance Company Limited as Member Secretary.

Khan directed the concerned departments to oversee that no harm or cruelty is inflicted on cattle during transportation.

On e-rickshaws, the Deputy Commissioner cum Chairman asked the DTO and police for taking necessary steps for streamlining their operation ensuring that no e-rickshaws ply illegally without valid papers.

It also discussed on conducting free eye camps for drivers of commercial vehicles and providing spectacles to them free of cost by the banks under their Corporate Social Responsibility.

The meeting was attended, among others, by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ruth Lienthang, Additional Superintendent of Police, Jagadish Das, Assistant Commissioner, Rebecca L. Changsan, District Transport Officer, Nripen Kalita and other members of DRSC.