Transport department issues instructions for safe driving on Char Dham routes during monsoon
Tuesday, 04 JUNE 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Transport department on Monday issued safety instructions for driving on Char Dham routes ahead of the monsoon. The regional transport officer (Administration) and nodal officer of Char Dham in the Transport department Sunil Sharma said that the risk of accidents increases during the rainy season in mountainous areas as the precipitation also triggers landslides, mudslides and cloud bursts. This causes a great inconvenience to drivers carrying pilgrims on Char Dham routes. Several fatal accidents are also registered during the monsoon. Considering this, a set of instructions has been issued to ensure all those driving on Char Dham routes exercise caution while driving as per the weather. As per the instructions issued on Monday, the drivers must check the weather forecast before starting the journey. They must wait for the weather to improve to avoid witnessing landslides and cloud bursts on mountainous routes. All drivers should make sure that their vehicles are maintained properly and that their headlights, tail lights, dippers and wipers are functioning well. They should drive slowly as the braking system works slowly on wet roads. They must keep a safe distance from other vehicles to avoid applying brakes abruptly as it can cause an accident. The drivers should also keep an eye out for standing water to avoid hydroplaning due to which tyres of the vehicle drive over standing water and lose contact with the road surface resulting in drastically reduced friction. The driver faces difficulty in steering the vehicle which can lead to fatal accidents. The drivers must also properly ventilate their vehicles during driving to avoid fogging on windshields. Sharma said that the department’s enforcement teams are conducting regular checks on Char Dham routes against violations. They have also been instructed to take necessary action against such drivers who fail to comply with these instructions and put people’s lives at risk.
