Traffic cops to hold awareness drives with RTC drivers

Hyderabad: In an effort to ensure a drop in road accidents and life-threatening traffic violations, especially by TSRTC bus drivers, the Hyderabad Traffic Police will hold a special awareness drive with RTC drivers from January 4.

The drive also aims to determine better road safety and more particularly in ensuring pedestrian safety.

According to police, on January 1, 2023, a road accident case was reported in Bowenpally, wherein two senior citizens were mowed to death by an RTC bus. Reconstruction of the scene of the offence and analysis of the accident conclusively pointed out the sheer negligence of the RTC bus driver.

To enhance road safety awareness, Traffic Police visited RTC depots and have cumulatively conducted 82 awareness classes with over 4,303 RTC employees. The employees were imparted with comprehensive road safety knowledge and were also sensitised on traffic laws and rules. A senior officer said that the Traffic Police conducted several coordination meetings with senior RTC officials to appraise the ground-level situation and sought their immediate attention to ensure road safety and traffic regulation in the City.

As per data obtained from the traffic police, in 2022, as many as 3,909 traffic challans were issued against RTC buses for traffic violations including signal jumping, over speed/dangerous driving, wrong side driving, unauthorised parking/obstructions, among others.

"In 2022, 41 commuters were killed in road accidents, wherein RTC buses were involved.

Out of 41 deaths, 21 deaths were of pedestrians. The involvement of RTC buses is 13 per cent of total fatalities," said an officer.