Lockdown cheer: 37% dip in UP road deaths

LUCKNOW: Road accidents and resultant casualties witnessed a sharp dip in Uttar Pradesh this year, thanks to Covid-induced lockdown. Between April and August, the accident rate fell dramatically by 41% while deaths came down by 37% compared to last year. However, chief minister Yogi Adityanath acknowledged it will be a challenge to keep the figures down next year too.
In a review of UP State Road Safety Council on Friday, he raised several concerns, including effective traffic enforcement to keep the fatality count down, saying “this come out of a sense of durbhavna rather than sadbhavna”.
He pointed out that movement of overloaded vehicles was continuing due to the culture of vasooli (extortion). “Before we launch a crackdown, we must begin a sensitisation drive.
It’s necessary to create awareness and challans are not the solution. Put up creative hoardings to drive home the message, not faces of politicians which defeat the purpose,” the CM told officials.
He directed officials to kickstart an awareness programme throughout the state through hoardings and public address systems. He asked the information department to work closely with the transport department to address drunk driving, talking on cell phones while driving, over-speeding and driving on the wrong side. “The campaign should take place at every level, even in schools. Create master trainers at each level,” the CM said.
He also said, a special drive should be carried out over the next week, before schools reopen to check fitness of vehicles. The CM also emphasised on women’s security, citing cases on roadways buses.
Highlighting causes that trigger accidents, the CM said, road engineering must be factored in while laying the tarmac, citing Yamuna Expressway where clocked several accidents raising questions over road engineering. “Ensure there are no roadside encroachments. If no underpasses are provided, villagers will break barriers to cross roads,” he said.
The CM also expressed dissatisfaction with the progress of the Smart City project, saying local bodies were not serious about implementation of the work.