No political recommendations in traffic enforcement, says Satheesan

Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan has warned political leaders against interfering in traffic enforcement, directing officials to act strictly against violators. The Jeeva-Suyatra mission aims to reduce road accidents, fatalities and injuries by 2030

Kochi: Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Sunday said no political leader or public representative would be allowed to intervene on behalf of people facing action for traffic violations, asserting that the government would support strict enforcement irrespective of public criticism.

Inaugurating the state-level launch of the ‘Jeeva-Suyatra’ road safety mission at Ernakulam Town Hall, Satheesan said police and Motor Vehicles Department officials should not heed recommendations from politicians or other influential persons while taking action against traffic offenders.

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“Neither I nor any other public representative will stand up for anyone who violates traffic rules. You need not heed anyone’s recommendation or telephone call. Just act strictly in accordance with the law,” he told law enforcement officials.

He said the government would not object even if strict enforcement invited public criticism.

“If people turn against this government because of strict enforcement, I will take full responsibility. We cannot afford a liberal approach in this matter. For the next six months, officials should take strict action without looking at anyone’s face,” he said.

Satheesan said the government expected road-user behaviour to change within six months and a new road safety culture to emerge in the state within a year.

Referring to road accidents and fatalities, he said the loss of even a single life affected families and friends and stressed the need for collective efforts to prevent accidents.

The Chief Minister also said improving road infrastructure was a government responsibility and assured that priority would be given to repairing roads, particularly filling potholes on Public Works Department roads.

The ‘Jeeva-Suyatra’ mission has been launched with the target of reducing road accidents, fatalities and injuries by 2030.

It is conceived as a comprehensive life-saving initiative in line with the global goal of reducing road accident deaths and injuries by 50 per cent by 2030.

The initiative focuses on five key objectives: safer roads, safer road-user behaviour, effective post-accident emergency response, safe speeds and safer vehicles.

Proposed interventions include road safety awareness campaigns in schools and colleges, engineering measures to rectify accident-prone locations and the use of modern technology to enforce traffic regulations.

Transport Minister C P John presided over the function.

Actor Mammootty, the initiative’s brand ambassador, also attended the programme.

Mammootty said road safety depended largely on the behaviour of road users, noting that most accidents resulted from human error rather than mechanical failures.

“People should not assume that their safety is in the hands of others. Our safety is our own responsibility,” he said, urging motorists and pedestrians to remain alert.

He also cautioned against speeding and competitive driving, particularly among young people, and said racing and driving stunts should be confined to designated tracks rather than public roads.

The actor stressed the need for pedestrians to use footpaths and designated crossings and avoid using mobile phones while walking on roads.

Emphasising that road safety was a shared responsibility, Mammootty said people should avoid distractions such as using mobile phones or listening to music while walking or driving.

He said even seemingly minor acts of carelessness could lead to serious accidents.