PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The regional transport officer of Dehradun division, Sandeep Saini, emphasised that not only enforcement agencies but the public should also prioritise traffic rules, which will help in ensuring road safety. Recently, chief secretary Anand Bardhan conducted a meeting to address road safety concerns and directed the relevant departments to take action.
Saini informed about the measures implemented by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Dehradun following the directives. He said that several key offenses contribute significantly to road safety issues, including not wearing helmets, speeding, overloading, using mobile phones while driving and driving on the wrong side of the road. These violations can lead to severe consequences and undermine road safety, he said.
He further added that to prioritise road safety, the department has conducted multiple enforcement drives focused on these violations recently. During one such drive in Dehradun district from August 21 to 23, a total of 3,177 challans were issued and 198 vehicles were seized. Saini also informed that action was taken against 371 vehicle owners for not possessing a valid driving license.
In addition to these efforts, Saini stated that more enforcement drives will be conducted in the future to maintain road safety. He pointed out that many two-wheeler riders are unaware that pillion riders must also wear helmets, whether in the city or outside. According to regulations, failing to do so constitutes a violation. He observed that around 70 per cent of casualties in accidents are attributed to not wearing helmets or wearing poor-quality helmets. Saini stressed that while enforcement measures are essential, public awareness and responsibility are crucial for improving road safety. He urged people to follow traffic rules not just to avoid fines but for the safety of their families, who may be affected by any consequences of violations.
He said that the RTO conducts annual awareness activities in schools to educate students about road safety, which eventually translates into messages for their parents. A road safety club at schools is soon to be established, he added.
