Odisha Initiates Comprehensive Road Safety Campaign Amid Rising Accident Concerns
In response to the escalating number of road accidents across Odisha, the State Transport Authority has mandated a special enforcement and road safety awareness initiative. This statewide campaign is scheduled to run from March 21 to March 31, aiming to address the persistent issue of traffic fatalities and injuries.
Focus on Key Traffic Violations and Enforcement Strategies
The order, issued on Tuesday, directs all regional transport officers and additional regional transport officers to implement the drive within their jurisdictions. Officials will concentrate on common traffic infractions that daily contribute to accidents, including:
- Triple riding on two-wheelers
- Riding without helmets
- Wrong-side driving
- Over speeding
- Drink driving
- Overloading of goods and passenger vehicles
- Driving without a valid licence
Particular concern has been raised regarding transport vehicles, such as tippers, dumpers, and hyvas, being operated by individuals lacking proper driving licences or authorisation.
Targeted Enforcement in High-Risk Areas
Enforcement efforts will be intensified in accident-prone zones, including national highways, state highways, mining and industrial corridors, urban arterial roads, major junctions, market areas, bus stands, and other vulnerable locations. Each RTO and additional RTO is required to develop a local enforcement plan that identifies critical points, deploys teams effectively, schedules checking times, and establishes supervisory mechanisms to ensure the drive's success.
Special emphasis will be placed on evening and night operations, particularly to monitor drink driving, over-speeding, and the movement of mining and goods transport vehicles. Coordination with superintendents of police, deputy commissioners of police, and local police authorities will be essential for tasks like drunken driving checks, speed detection, managing accident hotspots, crowd control, and traffic regulation during awareness events.
Integrating Awareness with Enforcement Measures
Alongside strict enforcement, the State Transport Authority has instructed all RTOs and additional RTOs to organise road safety awareness activities throughout the 10-day period. This component aims to educate motorists, transport operators, and the general public about the importance of adhering to traffic rules and adopting safe road behaviours.
An official from the transport department stated, "We hope the combined enforcement and awareness initiative will help curb violations, improve compliance with traffic regulations, and reduce road accidents and fatalities across Odisha." This holistic approach seeks to foster a culture of safety and responsibility on the roads, potentially leading to a significant decrease in accident rates in the state.
