AP to set up scientific driving testing tracks

Hyderabad, April 25 (INN): Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao on Saturday directed the officials to prepare a Project Report to set up Scientific Driving Testing Tracks in all the districts to make the process of issuing of driving licenses more stringent.

Krishna Rao, on Saturday, chaired a meeting with the Officers of Transport, Roads, Health, Finance and Home Departments to review on the Road Safety in the State. Transport Commissioner N Balasubrahmanyam has briefed through power point presentation on the road safety measures and on the activities, objectives of the A.P. State Road Safety Council.

A State vide Road Safety Council was re-constituted in Andhra Pradesh with the Chief Minister as the Chairman and Minister for Transport, Roads and Buildings as Co-Chairman with 17 officials and related organisations as Members. A lead agency under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to Government of Andhra Pradesh is also created to assist the Road Safety Council and also to supervise the road safety activities of all the related departments in the State.

For identification of black spots and their removal Road Safety Committees at District level are constituted to monitor and to see the effectiveness of road safety. All the district road safety committees constituted under Section 215(3) under the Chairman-ship of the District Collector concerned with officials of various related Departments as members, were also activated and all these committees were directed to identify the road corrections required at various curves, junctions and other traffic'heavy places. The Road Ways Departments are in the process of identifying and rectifying such spots. A total number of 1140 vulnerable areas were identified and steps are being initiated to address these vulnerable areas. Progress of road improvements will be regularly reviewed by the lead agency.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Government of India is also in the process of bringing-out a uniform definition of a black spot on a road with reference to road safety. After a proper definition of Black spot is conveyed by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), some of these vulnerable areas will be re-christened as Black spots and the same will be addressed.

To enhance the focus of enforcements on Road Safety, specific offences viz., drunken drive, over speeding, over loading, red light jumping without helmets, seat belts etc., were identified and the enforcement officials were directed to focus on these specific offences to improve road safety. Joint enforcement teams for road safety were also formed with Transport and Police officials in all the districts. A regular analysis of the type of offences will be done and the road safety interventions will be planned specifically with a view to reduce the repeated occurrence of such offences.

The Chief Secretary has directed the concerned to insist compulsory in wearing of helmets and seat belts to ensure fatalities may come down due to road accidents. To reduce the road accidents strengthening of the patrolling on National and State Highways is essential. The reports of the inspections made by the enforcement teams will be considered in the meetings of the lead agency for monitoring of the activities to be undertaken for improving road safety and for budgetary support, if any.

The State Government is taking steps to ensure that no liquor shops are within 50 meters of radius along the National and State Highways and a proposal to set up exclusive and permanent Road Safety enforcement teams along with required gadgets like breath analysers, speed guns are under consideration. The district-wide road safety committees and the traffic advisory committees for the cities are directed to regularly convene the meetings and to take appropriate steps to remove encroachments on pedestrian paths, Chief Secretary said.

Spl. Chief Secretary Health LV Subrahmanyam, Prl. Secretary Finance Dr. P.V. Ramesh, Prl. Secretary TR&B B Sambob, Director General of Police J.V. Ramudu and other officers were attended the meeting.