AP to implement SC guidelines on Road Safety

Hyderabad, July 30 (INN): Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao directed Special Chief Secretary Medical and Health L.V. Subrahmanyam to initiate immediate action for implementing the guidelines of Government of India and the instructions issued by Supreme Court of India on 'Road Safety'.

The Road Safety Committee meeting, held today under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, reviewed the Road Safety measures in Andhra Pradesh. Krishna Rao informed that the Supreme Court formed a Committee on Road Safety (CoRS) to monitor the situation on Road Safety. The CoRS is regularly monitoring and insisting on meeting of the Council.

The Chief Secretary has suggested to the Road Safety Committee that in any road accident victims should be admitted in nearby hospital either Government or Private immediately, to access free treatment including surgeries. If the hospitals are refused to admit the victims for treatment ' license of those hospitals should be cancelled under Chemical and Establishment Act. Chief Secretary has also directed the Committee to publicise it to ensure awareness among the public and medical institutions.

Prl. Secretary Transport, Road and Buildings B. Sam Bob has informed that the Government of India took a decision to establish Trauma Care Centres on the National High Ways of Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata, to provide better health facilities for the victims of Road Accidents.

Krishna Rao opined that the Medical Colleges near to the National Highways may adopt these Trauma Care Centres for better monitoring system.

Principal Finance Secretary Dr. P.V. Ramesh suggested the committee that there is a need to conduct a meeting with the manufacturing units of Lorries, Cars and other motor vehicles along with the Officers concerned to take Road Safety measures while manufacturing the vehicles.

The Committee has taken a decision to create Road Safety Fund administering it by constituting a sub-committee. Creation of Road Safety Fund will facilitate the Transport Department to buy the equipment and gadgets for effective enforcement. Chief Secretary suggested that for Road Safety and for Trauma Care Centres Funds may be mobilized with the co-operation of Lorry Owners Associations and other Non-Government Organizations.

Krishna Rao instructed the concerned for implementing wearing of helmet by the two wheeler riders is made compulsory from August 1, in Andhra Pradesh. School Education Department has been requested to educate the school children on traffic rules by publishing it in the school books, magazines and by projecting of short films.

A Road Safety Policy draft has been prepared by the Transport Department in consultation with stake holding departments. It needs proper approval. An Action Plan on Road Safety with six pillars for improvement was also prepared in consultation with the stake holding Departments and it needs to be pursued by each of the departments. Improvement of identified black spots has to be done by the Road Engineering Departments. Enforcement will be further more effective if exclusive enforcement squads are created to monitor on the national and state highways and Driving testing tracks need to be developed in all the Districts and required land to be acquired for this purpose.

Officers from Health, School Education, Transport, Road and Buildings Departments are attended the meeting.