Strict enforcement is next step to check road accidents: DGP

DGP B Shivadhar Reddy said strict enforcement of traffic rules will be the next step to reduce road accidents. He highlighted the impact of the Arrive Alive programme, stressed helmet and seat belt use, and warned against drunk driving

Karimnagar: Director General of Police, B Shivadhar Reddy, informed that strict enforcement of traffic rules is the next step of the police department to reduce road accidents.

Presently, they were educating people about traffic rules by conducting awareness programmes as part of the Arrive Alive programme across the state. In the next step, traffic rules would be enforced strictly, the DGP said while addressing a press conference here on Friday.

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Since road accidents have become a social issue, they have started ‘Arrive Alive’ by bringing the issue to the notice of the Chief Minister.

Every year, there has been an increase in the number of road accident deaths during the last ten years. On average, about 7,500 road accident deaths used to take place every year. However, it has come down after the launch of the Arrive Alive programme. Only 330 deaths took place in the first quarter of this year, the police boss informed.

Besides conducting awareness programmes, village road safety committees were also constituted in all villages.

Talking about road accidents, the DGP said that human errors such as negligence, reckless driving, overspeeding and others were the main reasons.

About 800 people died due to murders in a year, while 7,500 persons were losing their lives in road accidents. The death rate was higher in two-wheeler accidents than in other vehicles.

So, both rider and pillion rider must wear a helmet. According to rules, children above the age of four years should also wear helmets. There was no use in wearing a helmet without fastening the buckle. So, vehicle users must fix helmet clips.

All people travelling in cars must wear seat belts since it helps prevent them from falling out of the vehicle during a road accident. Moreover, safety balloons would not open if seat belts were not worn in case of accidents.

Stating that drunk driving was another reason for road accidents, he advised people not to drive vehicles after consuming liquor. Defensive driving and maintaining distance from other vehicles were also important to stay safe from accidents.

Shivadhar Reddy advised people not to give vehicles to their children.

Earlier, the DGP participated in the Arrive Alive programme held at police parade grounds here and distributed uniforms to autorickshaw drivers and helmets to two-wheeler drivers.