Prevent road accidents

There is no end to the road accidents. People keep on getting injured, even losing lives, in such mishaps. Recently 10 persons died in an accident when a vehicle they were traveling in skidded off the road and rolled down to a gorge at Battery Cheshma in Ramban on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.

That was followed by an accident at Chenani in which one person lost his life and three others were injured. Mishaps also keep on occurring in other parts. Accidents occur due to over-speeding, wrong-side driving and violation of other road safety rules, besides bad condition of roads.

However, mostly over-speeding and driving on wrong side are the main causes. Sometimes, when major accidents occur, demands are made that the concerned departments must act and take steps to prevent the mishaps.

Like last year when an overloaded passenger bus met with an accident in Doda district and 38 persons lost their lives, the concerned department came under criticism for not checking overloading in passenger vehicles.

Subsequently, a drive was launched across Jammu and Kashmir against the drivers indulging in over-loading. This drive must continue throughout the year more particularly in the areas vulnerable to such accidents.

Drives must be also launched against over-speeding and wrong-side driving, and also against those not using seat belts while travelling. Action should be taken against the two wheeler riders not using helmets.

The road safety rules should be strictly implemented and action taken against the violators. The man power of the concerned department must be also strengthened. While the concerned department has to do its work, drivers also need to act responsibly. They must themselves follow the rules and not violate those.

That way their own lives and also the lives of others on roads will remain safe. Condition of dilapidated roads too has to be made better. Sometimes accidents also occur due to bad condition of roads, so necessary repair of such roads is very important.

The repair work must be made at the earliest without any delay. Steps have to be taken at all required levels to prevent or minimise the road accidents and save precious lives.