- Road safety awareness messages to be disseminated at schools, cinemas, and liquor shops
By Our Correspondent
Lucknow: The Yogi government has made extensive preparations for the Road Safety Fortnight starting in Uttar Pradesh from December 15 to 31. The fortnight aims to prioritize road maintenance, with a specific emphasis on road engineering.
Notably, the government plans to replace conventional, jolting speed breakers with more driver-friendly tabletop speed breakers along various routes. Additionally, there will be mandatory applications of thermoplastic paints and cat’s eye technology, among others, to enhance road safety.
Repairing damaged pavements and removing illegal cuts will also be expedited to keep the roads pothole-free. Additionally, throughout various cities and roads, as needed, CCTV cameras and ANPR cameras will be installed to enhance surveillance.
During the Road Safety Fortnight, the Yogi government’s focus is not only on raising awareness about safety among the public but also on enforcing strict measures against those who repeatedly violate traffic rules.
Attention will also be given to emergency care
The Yogi government is placing significant emphasis on both road safety and emergency care. There will be a special focus on this during the Road Safety Fortnight. According to the plan, directions have been given to upgrade the established medical aid posts at NHAI toll plazas. Under emergency care, Aapda Mitras of the Revenue Department and petrol pump dhaba personnel, vehicle mechanics will be given first responder training by the Health Department, while health cards will be compulsorily issued to commercial drivers. Instructions have also been given not to renew driving licenses without health check-ups.
Publicity will be done on a large scale
An action plan has been prepared for monitoring Road Safety Fortnight from the district administration level. Under this, for the implementation of Uttar Pradesh Road Accident Investigation Scheme-2023, action will be taken at the district administration level to constitute an Accident Investigation Committee and District Level Coordination Committee to investigate accidents involving 3 or more road accidents and deaths in each district.
Road safety videos will be compulsorily shown at the beginning and interval of the movie in all the cinema halls and multiplexes of the state. Hoardings emphasizing not driving while intoxicated will be mandatory at all liquor shops (thekas, model shops, bars). Actions will be taken to remove encroachments in cities and on important roads, and effective patrolling for fog-related effects will also be ensured.
Preparations for stringent enforcement measures
The task of enforcement will be delegated to the police and transport department, with a focus on rigorous action. Under this, effective enforcement action will be ensured in cases like red light jumping, overspeeding, use of mobile phone while driving, overloading, drunk driving, helmet/seatbelt, wrong side driving as directed by the Committee on Road Safety of the Supreme Court in view of road safety.
—In cases where challan/ fines have been issued more than three times in a row, action will be taken to cancel the driving license of the driver and even after this, if the offence is repeated by such drivers, then action will be taken to suspend and cancel the registration of the vehicles.
—In instances of overloading in mining transport via cargo vehicles, robust enforcement actions will be carried out at the point of origin through the task force established by the District Magistrate.
—School vehicles will be regularly inspected to ensure their fitness and effective enforcement action will be taken if they are not found to be as per the standards.
—Adherence to the ‘School Vehicle Rules’ will be strictly enforced, limiting the operation of school vehicles beyond the prescribed age
—Registration of e-rickshaws, autorickshaws and taxis in urban areas will be verified and their routes will be determined. Illegal e-rickshaws, autorickshaws, and taxi stands will be identified and removed from the roads by taking enforcement action.
