KNZ NEWS DESK
BANDIPORA, APRIL 23: Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Dr Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza Tuesday called for conducting road safety audit, Accident Investigation and research on road safety issues.
The directions were passed during a meeting convened to formulate a revised district road safety action plan 2018-2020 for the district. The meeting was attended by Assistant Commissioner Revenue Reyaz Ahmad Beigh, Chief Medical Officer Bandipora, Dr Tajamul, Chief Education Officer Bandipora Javid Iqbal, ACD Bandipora Jahangir Ahmad, ARTO Bandipora Suhayb Ahmad, OC BEACON, Lt Col APS Khaira, Executive Engineer R&B Abdul Aziz, Executive Officer MCB, Syed Naeem Rizvi, DySP Traffic Fahim Ali, DySP (DAR) AR Khan and other senior officers of the district
On the occasion DC Bandipora directed the Executive Traffic Police and Motor Vehicles Department to set up an Accident Recording System and an agency to conduct accident investigation and research on road safety so that preventive measures can be taken accordingly.
He also directed Public Works Department and BRO to improve roads marking and signages besides eliminating high risk stretches and also asked them to improve junctions on all cross roads besides improvement of lighting near habitations.
Mirza also directed PWD, BRO, Municipal Committees of Sumbal Hajin and Bandipora to remove dangerous road side objects and hoardings alongside roads besides containment of log cutting on Gurez-Bandipora road and its dumpage alongside the road. They were also instructed to keep the provision of advanced parking areas in crowded areas and relocation of the road side vendors to deal with frequent traffic congestion and facilitate pedestrians movement.
During the meeting, the MVD was also instructed to ensure proper inspection and certification for in-use vehicles, compulsory installation of GPS in commercial vehicles, putting of night reflective tapes to increase visibility, installation of speed governors on transport vehicles.
The Traffic Police and MVD were also directed to enforce use of Road Safety Devices and enforce speed limits, penalize dangerous driving, careless parking, and use of mobile phones while driving, removal of encroachment from footpaths and roads.
Deputy Commissioner Bandipora also directed the School Education Department and PWD to review and research the current road safety education practices and responsibilities and asked the officials of Education, Traffic Department and Information Department to conduct camps and seminars on road safety education to create awareness. The Department of Health were also instructed to conduct periodic eye health check-ups of drivers and also asked them to train First-Time responders including Police, Health Officials and volunteers in dealing with the accident causalities by giving CPR and other First-aid techniques.
The Health Department was also asked to upgrade the trauma-care facilities at Government Health Centres , deployment of ambulances near accident prone spots.
