BHUBANESWAR: Road mishaps not only kill but also are a huge drain on the exchequer. The Motor Vehicle Department’s technical executives will have a huge role to play in containing the trend. They can do it with a change in attitude and using the basic human values.
This was the unanimous view of top officials of the Transport Department at the national workshop on ‘Road Safety,’ organised by the All India Federation of MV Department Technical Executive Officers Association here on Saturday.
Minister for Commerce and Transport Jaynarayan Mishra inaugurated the event which was attended by MV Department officers from eight states. Secretary to Commerce and Transport Department Pradip Jena and Transport Commissioner CTM Suguna were present.
Addressing the gathering of RTOs, Additional RTOs and MVIs, Mishra said deaths in road accidents have proved more devastating than war and epidemics. Over 12 lakh are killed on the road across the globe every year and, India alone accounts for 4.18 lakh fatalities.
Besides the human loss, the cost inflicted on the government through rehabs and compensation is huge. Better enforcement, increased commitment as well as improvement in infrastructure will go a long way in reversing the trend, he said. On the occasion, Jena said enforcement in MV Department is yet to get the attention although rate of fatalities is very high. Besides, quality of driving and road engineering are other aspects that need focus.
Calling for change in attitude and increased commitment, Jena said, quite a few states have strengthened infrastructure but a lot remains to be done. Information sharing among states through a national database and uniformity in codes are the call of the hour.
Transport Commissioner Suguna said 70 per cent of road traffic injuries are caused by human error. There has been a 170 times increase in the number of vehicles since 1951 but the growth of roads has been barely nine times. The MV officers must realise that by issuing driving licence to a half-literate and non-deserving driver is like issuing a death warrant for a person who is no way responsible. Change in human attitude and values can make a difference.
Bhubaneswar RTO BK Senapati and president of Orissa Transport Engineer Services Association Saradakanta Mohapatra spoke.