KOCHI: Automobile and road safety experts call for faster implementation of Safe Keralaproject that aims to reduce accident rates and ensures speedy medical assistance to victims. They also said that it was high time the government rolled out the project that also envisages sensitization of drivers about the importance of road safety and teaches responsible driving.
“There is a need of sensitizing the drivers in Kerala about road safety and responsible driving. The road conditions in Kerala are not suitable for high-speed driving, considering the increasing number of vehicles that congest the roads. Strict enforcement of rules and sensitization of drivers about responsible driving is the need of the hour. This could be achieved through systematic training and awareness campaigns. Hence, the government should not delay the statewide implementation of Safe Kerala project,” said road safety expert P D Sunil Babu, who was the safe zone special officer during the last pilgrim season.
Meanwhile, in the light of Avinashi accident, road safety experts also raised concerns about the design of the interstate multi-axle luxury buses in terms of body strength to withstand a crash as most of passenger cabins are covered with glass panels with less metal beams. They said that though these buses are manufactured according to international standards it doesn’t suit Indian road conditions where the roads are narrower and witness high traffic.
“The present luxury buses reached India following the culture in Western countries. These buses have high safety standards that match the roads in those countries which have very few two-way traffic lanes. When a hit comes from either side of the bus, the impact would be higher as the glass shield could not reduce the impact of the hit,” said Upendra Narayan, director, and member of Kerala road safety council.
Narayan also said that there the enforcement of rules in heavy vehicle sector is poor and needs a complete revamp.
Source: TOI
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