Pune: Strict Enforcement of Road Safety Rules Essential to Reduce Accidents, Emphasizes Justice Abhay SapreÂ
Pune, 19 October 2024: All concerned authorities should strictly implement road safety rules to ensure that innocent citizens are not lost in vehicle accidents. A comprehensive policy should be prepared for this, directed retired Supreme Court Justice Abhay Sapre, Chairman of the Road Safety Committee established by the Supreme Court.
He was speaking at a meeting of the Road Safety Committee organized at Vidhan Bhavan. Present on the occasion were Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar, Divisional Commissioner Dr. Chandrakant Pulkundwar, Municipal Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale, District Collector Dr. Suhas Divase, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh, Deputy Commissioner of the Divisional Commissioner’s office Varsha Ladda Untwal, Additional Police Commissioner Manoj Patil, Additional Transport Commissioner Bharat Kalskar, Pune Regional Transport Officer Archana Gaikwad, Pimpri Chinchwad Regional Transport Officer Sandesh Chavan, and others.
Justice Sapre stated that reckless and irresponsible driving is leading to an increase in the number of deaths of innocent citizens, which is a serious issue. He mentioned that the Supreme Court has taken serious note of this matter, emphasizing that road accidents should be reduced, accident victims should receive immediate medical attention, and fatalities should be minimized. The Supreme Court has issued guidelines from time to time and established a Road Safety Committee under its supervision. This committee is permanently operational and reports the measures and actions related to road safety directly to the Supreme Court.
Considering the rising number of innocent deaths in road accidents, the transport department, police department, and all relevant government agencies should work positively. Officers should fulfill their responsibilities with care and work selflessly. Modern technology should be used to strictly enforce road safety rules. Efforts should be made to reduce the number of fatalities in accidents, and all relevant agencies should seriously follow the instructions given in this meeting.
With the increasing number of vehicles, road safety has become a serious concern. Citizens should also voluntarily follow traffic rules. Vehicles on the road should be in good condition, drivers should wear seat belts, avoid talking on mobile phones while driving, avoid speeding, and refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol. Vehicle licenses and insurance for both vehicles and drivers should be renewed regularly. Justice Sapre urged drivers to take the initiative in understanding road safety measures and strictly follow traffic rules.
With the growing number of two-wheeler fatalities in road accidents, both drivers and passengers should wear helmets that meet road safety standards. For this, the administration should enforce helmet mandates for two-wheeler drivers. To raise awareness of traffic rules, a Road Safety Week should be organized, directed Justice Sapre.
Transport Commissioner Bhimanwar presented various road safety measures taken by the transport department. He informed that the number of fatalities on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway has decreased by 30% and on the Samruddhi Expressway by 33%.
Divisional Commissioner Dr. Pulkundwar said that helmets would be made mandatory for officers and employees working in all government and semi-government offices, municipal corporations, district councils, corporations, schools, and colleges. Action will be taken against those not wearing helmets, and necessary instructions will be issued to the concerned department heads. He also suggested that vehicle inspections on state and national highways should be extended to districts and urban areas.
Retired Justice Sapre expressed satisfaction with the ‘Accident-Free Wari’ campaign organized by the Pune Regional Transport Office and the road safety measures undertaken by the transport department.
Present at the meeting were Nanded Regional Transport Officer Vinay Ahire, Nagpur Regional Transport Officer Kiran Beedkar, Baramati Deputy Regional Transport Officer Surendra Nikam, and Gondia Deputy Regional Transport Officer Rajendra Keskar, among others.