Road horror continues
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Road horror continues

Post by on Wednesday, August 17, 2022

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Jammu and Kashmir UT is every day witnessing deaths due to road accidents. Yesterday in yet another tragic accident, six personnel of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) lost their precious lives when the bus they were travelling in skidded of the road and rolled down into a gorge near Zig Chandanwari in Pahalgam. This incident of bus being gorged happens to follow the series of mishaps the UT has witnessed lately. Over the years, the gorges in Kashmir valley and even outside have become death pits, and the traffic authority is not the only one to be blamed. Many a time negligence and recklessness shown by drivers are primarily responsible for fatal road accidents throughout the length and breadth of the UT. While the administration can ensure better roads and construct them in such a way as to minimize accidents, a driver still needs to pay attention to the road and ignore all distractions. The most that traffic authorities can do is check valid documents like driving license, read the condition of a vehicle and inquire about the state of the driver whether he is intoxicated or not. Traffic cops cannot sit next to drivers and watch them drive. If drivers are not paying attention, it is a serious problem because there is little that traffic department can do in such circumstances. There is a need for extended campaign on road safety. Road Safety should be introduced in the education curriculum so that a stronger sense is cultivated at an early age. On issuance of driving license, authorities must shift their focus on road safety now. Tests need to be elaborate, and licensing authority must not issue a license until the testee gets a road safety clearance. Road Safety would fail if it is put as an imposition instead of making it self-imposing. Furthermore, speed limit signs and speed breakers should be put to judicious use. Speed is often a cause for road mishaps and therefore needs to be put among the high priority checks. Road Safety has to be readily picked up by the person, which is not happening; so traffic department must also rethink on the format and content of the road safety programmes. Many experts are also of the opinion that the road construction in the UT is rarely done in a way so that accidents are minimized. Road banks and curves are essential to maintain the grip on the road. In many cases accident prone roads or junctions have created notional danger spots. These are the points where risks are manifold, not only because of the road construction but also due to traffic flow and direction. While the government needs to focus on ensuring proper construction of roads on safety parameters, the traffic authorities can identify and map the danger spots. Further, the government must utilize scientific methods of collecting relevant data on road accidents and come up with a comprehensive strategy to remove the obstacles. Unless Government embarks the mission with commitment to bring a change, road accidents will take a toll.    

 

 

 

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