KOCHI: The lack of ‘preventive maintenance’ of the vehicles was to blame for five per cent of all the accidents reported in the state, said Ernakulam RTO P H Sadhik Ali.
Referring to the Koothattukulam incident on Monday in which three persons, including two toddlers were killed due to the brake failure of the vehicle, the RTO said majority of the motorists did not get their respective vehicles serviced at regular intervals.
“ While majority of the accidents are due to the negligence and rash driving on the part of the drivers, five per cent of all the accidents are due to the lack of ‘preventive maintenance’ of the vehicle. In majority of the cases the vehicle would be repaired only when it broke down. The owner should get the vehicle serviced at a particular time and the usual trend should change,” said the RTO,while giving his suggestion on the ways to bring down the accident rate.
According to Sadhik Ali, the accidents involving the school vehicles could be avoided if the authorities concerned ensured the proper maintenance of the vehicle. “Though we inspect the fitness of the school vehicles every year it is also the responsibility of the school authorities. The school authorities should depute a teacher to monitor the vehicle and this should be applicable to the vehicles taken on contract basis. If they inform us it will be easy for us to monitor and ensure the quality of the vehicles,” the RTO said.
Besides, the school vehicles should maintain an updated list of the students using the conveyance.
Meanwhile, the Motor Vehicles Department(MVD) is also planning to conduct fitness tests for the school vehicles in the wake of the Koothattukulam mishap. “A squad would be set up to conduct the inspection of the school vehicles. Though we conduct vehicle fitness test prior to the reopening of the schools, this is aimed at detecting the mechanical defects in the vehicles,” the RTO said.