In a decisive response to a horrific multi-vehicle collision on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura district that resulted in 19 fatalities, the Prayagraj Regional Transport Office (RTO) has initiated a comprehensive road safety campaign. The initiative aims to ensure the secure travel of all commuters, especially during the perilous winter fog.
Multi-Pronged Awareness Drive for Drivers
Authorities are making a fervent appeal to all drivers to adopt essential preventive measures while navigating roads in low-visibility conditions. To amplify this message, RTO officials have proactively engaged with unions representing truck, bus, and taxi drivers. The goal is to create widespread awareness about critical safety precautions, with a special emphasis on conducting thorough visibility checks before commencing any journey.
Prayagraj RTO Sanjay Gupta explained the campaign's focus to TOI. "In order to reduce fog-related accidents, officials have appealed to drivers to take preventive measures like visibility checks, using fog lights, significantly reducing speed, using low-beam headlights, maintaining larger gaps between vehicles and staying alert," he stated. Gupta further confirmed that this awareness campaign was launched after inducting taxi and truck/bus unions to bolster road safety.
Strict Enforcement and Visibility Enhancements
Alongside awareness, the RTO is ramping up enforcement. Six special teams equipped with breathalysers have been deployed across key routes, including national and state highways, to rigorously check for drunken driving. Stern action is promised against any violators caught.
Simultaneously, the transport office is undertaking a practical exercise to enhance vehicle visibility. Authorities are pasting reflective tapes on vehicles. These tapes reflect the light from oncoming vehicles, significantly improving visibility for drivers during dense fog and helping to avert collisions.
Focus on Heavy Vehicles and Past Records
The campaign has a targeted approach towards heavy vehicles. With over 400 challans issued last year—primarily to trucks and tractors—the authorities are particularly vigilant this season. The plan is to focus mainly on tractors that ferry crops from villages to urban areas.
"Our focus will be on tractors and trucks as they tend to speed and cause maximum accidents during foggy days," an official revealed. The official added that heavy vehicle drivers would be advised to park at safe spots and halt operations entirely in case of dangerously dense fog on highways.
Gupta also emphasized that a set of guidelines, including following road markings and signage like delineators and reflective tapes, could prove immensely useful for all road users. This multi-faceted campaign by the Prayagraj RTO represents a concerted effort to translate the tragic lessons from the Yamuna Expressway accident into actionable safety measures for the region.
