In a bid to bring down fatalities due to road mishaps, the Odisha State Transport Authority (STA) asked all the Regional Transport Officers (RTO) in every district to continue stringent enforcement measures throughout December.
The STA has decided to continue the enforcement in view of high rate of fatalities due to fog and other climatic conditions in December.
As per the order, stringent enforcement on drunken driving, juvenile offence, helmetless driving, driving in excess speed, using mobile while driving, wrong side driving and overloading in goods carriage will be carried out for the entire month of December, 2023.
The STA requested the RTOs to intimate to the Commissioner’s office in case they require any more assistance and support in terms of additional vehicles for patrolling and police assistance to enhance the enforcement activities.
The Authority also wrote to chalk out detailed programme in consultation with Collector and Superintendent of Police to carry out the enforcement on aforementioned subject.
“As you know most of the accidents and fatalities have been reported due to rash and negligence driving, over speeding, drunken driving and hitting against parked/abandoned vehicles, special emphasis shall be given on these matters to prevent accidents and fatalities. The detailed action plan taken at your level must be submitted to this office and also the result of the drive shall be submitted to this office,” the letter read.
Buoyed by the encouraging results of the Zero Fatality Week observed in April this year, the State Commerce and Transport Department had observed the week again from December 1 to 7. After April’s zero road fatality week, there has been a decrease of 28.6 percent in road accident fatalities, said sources.