ROAD SAFETY

                                                                            ROAD SAFETY

Recent road accidents involving untimely death of innocent passengers show the ineffective control of the Bus drivers by the Bus owners and the Government officials. The accidents are prone to happen when a vehicle moves on the road, driven by a careless and inexperienced person. Holding of a License to drive a public transport, does not mean that the passengers are safe in the hands of the person driving the vehicle  with a valid license.

The reasons for the fatal accidents on the roads are not far to seek. Failure of the driver is mainly the cause for the accidents. Material failure is also a component factor but it is very rare.  I would suggest the following measures to prevent road accidents which have become a menace to the travelling public:-

A.       On the part of the driver.

        1.       The driver must be sufficiently experienced in driving heavy duty vehicles. At least the person who has 15 years driving experience only should handle the Bus or any other public transport.

2.       Minimum age for driver for public transport must be 35 years.

3.       The driver should not use alcoholic drinks during duty hours.

4.       The fitness of the vehicle (Road worthiness) must be checked before taking the Bus/Van.

5.       He should stop and start the vehicle very carefully after ensuring that all the passengers are in/out.

6.        Light signals must invariably used while driving in the night duly observing the traffic regulations during day & night.

      B.      On the part of the Transport Officials:-

1.       Frequent checks on the safety aspects during day & night to be ensured.  Surprised patrolling and checks necessary to bring awareness in the minds of the drivers   “regarding Safe Driving”.

2.       Over speeding to be controlled by surprised inspections by the Traffic officials.

3.       Frequent refresher courses to be arranged to instill good and safe driving sense in the mind set of the drivers.

4.       Installation of Speed governor only will not avoid accidents. Even at slow speed accidents can happen, if driven by a careless/rash driver!.

5.       Like Railway locomotive, a Second driver (Navigator) may be thought of to assist the main driver to alert him from “Moments of Inaction” which often seen in drivers due to mental aberration/diversion..

6.       Repeated offenders to be punished and incorrigible drivers to dismissed from  service.

        C.    On the part of the PWD Officials:-

         1.     The engineers concerned must ensure safe roads by maintaining the road structure on the fixed schedule according to the terrain. If on the hill slopes, the road must be protected with breast walls with weep holes and with flatter side slopes.

               2.   Catch water drain must be constructed at appropriate levels to prevent

                       over flowing of the rain water thereby damaging the hill slopes causing landslides.

 3.     Proper super elevation/cant to be provided on curves without any compromise.

   A " Stitch in Time Saves Nine” must be the motto of the engineers in maintaining the roads.

       I am sure if we are careful in the above items in maintaining the transport vehicles and the roads we may be able to prevent fatal accidents on the roads, duly taking into confidence the drivers for their safe performance.

Abraham Mangalath Philip