Guwahati: Looking at the year-end celebrations, where incidents of unruly vehicle driving & accidents are often reported, Assam government has introduced nine highly advanced traffic interceptor vehicles (TIV) on Wednesday with an aim to achieve the goal of zero accident on the last day of 2021.
Flagging off the TIVs State transport minister Chandra Mohan Patowary informed that those will be operational in Baksa, Dhubri, Hojai, Karbi Anglong, Morigaon, Sivasagar, Lakhimpur and Kamrup districts. Prior to it, 15 TIVs were deployed in other districts where 11 numbers of speed guns were also distributed for effective enforcement of traffic regulations.
Mentionable is that the TIVs are fitted with automatic number plate recognition system cameras, which may be used not just in detecting over-speeding cases, but also for other offences like non-wearing of helmet, seatbelt, etc along with breathalyzers to enforce against drunk driving.
“Strict enforcement drive has been taken out throughout the State against driving without helmet by both rider and pillion rider, drunken driving and over-speeding of vehicles. This exercise is being carried by the police, transport and excise department officials. Since 1 December, more than 11,000 cases of riding without helmets have been detected,” said Patowary.
He called upon the people to abide by the traffic rules to make Assam accident free and save precious lives. Last year on 31 December and 1 January this year alone 29 lives were lost in 69 numbers of accidents. By following all the traffic regulations, the people can move towards 2022 with a pledge to make the State free from road-accidents, he added.
Later chairing a meeting of the State road safety council, Patowary reviewed the action taken by the stakeholders on implementation of road safety laws in the State. The meeting was attended by representatives from the State police, PWD, NHAI, NHIDCL, excise, health, education departments etc.
It was revealed in the meeting that from 2018-2020 the State witnessed 23,191 number of road accidents that claimed 8803 lives. Shockingly, over 50% of the victims were in the age group of 18-35 years, which is the most productive age group. Out of all these accidents, 6149 incidents were related to two-wheelers. Noticeable point is that about 75% of road accidents take place because of over-speed.
In presence of top bureaucrats Dr KK Dwivedi, Adil Khan, police personality Hiren Nath with others, Patowary asked NHAI, NHIDCL and State PWD officials to construct truck-bays to avoid accidents on the highways and also take proper steps and correct measures in respect of damaged signage, potholes, crash guards, rumble strips, etc within 15 February next.
Nine more highly advanced traffic interceptor vehicles introduced
