District admin gets set to impose harsher road rules: Collector

Kakinada: East Godavari Collector D Muralidhar Reddy said that in view of increased number of road accidents while driving two-wheelers or four-wheelers, use of helmets for two-wheelers and seatbelts for four-wheelers would be made mandatory from September 1.

Addressing the District Road Safety meeting, the Collector observed that as per reports, a total 1,345 road accidents took place in the district from January to July this year in which 513 people lost their lives.

A majority of these accidents occurred on two-wheelers. He said that vehicle owners would be given counselling from September 1 onwards on the need to use helmets while driving the two-wheelers and seat belts for four wheelers. After the counselling, a fine would be imposed from September 15 onwards, if violations were noticed.

The District Collector directed that stake holder departments concerned to take immediate measures on the issue basing on the recent road audit report in the district on prevention of road accidents.

On identification of sites prone to accidents in different areas, setting up of sufficient number of sign boards to caution the drivers was also suggested by D Muralidhar Reddy.

With regard to stray animals on the roads, which has been causing accidents, the Collector said that they would be shifted to an Agency Area where the members of the tribal community were willing to take care of them.

Dr Shimoshi Bajpai, SP, Rajamahendravaram Urban, Adnan Nayeem Asmi, SP, East Godavari ,Ch Pratap, DTC East Godavari, Ramkrishna, DSP, traffic Kakinada and others attended.