Enhanced Road Safety Measures Urged by Former Chief Minister

Enhanced Road Safety Measures Urged by Former Chief Minister
Shanta Kumar Calls for Government Action to Address Road Accidents
Dharamsala (Arvind Sharma) 27/01/24
The rising number of road accidents in Himachal Pradesh has raised serious concerns for former Chief Minister and former Union Minister Shanta Kumar, who is urging the government to take immediate action to address this alarming issue. Kumar emphasizes the need for strict measures to combat the prevalent culture of haste, recklessness, and drunk driving among motorists, as these accidents have a devastating impact on innocent lives.
Kumar reveals that Himachal Pradesh witnesses around four thousand deaths and ten thousand injuries annually due to road accidents, with a staggering 80 percent of these incidents being attributed to speeding, drunk driving, and traffic violations. He emphasizes that a 50 percent reduction in such accidents could potentially save the lives of two thousand individuals each year and relieve the financial burden on the government caused by vehicle damage and medical expenses.
To tackle this issue, Kumar proposes practical solutions, urging the government to install modern surveillance devices on the roads to identify and penalize drivers who violate traffic regulations. He suggests imposing hefty fines of Rs 5,000 for first-time offenders and Rs 20,000 for repeat violations, stating that strict enforcement would act as a deterrent and significantly decrease the number of accidents.

Kumar proposed a program to acknowledge skilled and dependable drivers. His suggestion was that drivers with a spotless record for ten years would receive a monthly raise of Rs 5,000, while those who remained accident-free for twenty years would get a monthly increase of Rs 10,000. Additionally, drivers who retired without any accidents should be recognized and given a reward of Rs 10 lakh. Kumar estimated that the money set aside for these honors would be balanced out by the significant savings resulting from accident prevention.
Commending Deputy Chief Minister Shri Mukesh Agnihotri’s effort to honor women drivers, Kumar emphasized the need for proactive measures to promote road safety and save lives. He urged the government to prioritize the implementation of these suggestions in order to reduce the occurrence of road accidents and foster a culture of responsible driving in Himachal Pradesh.