More than 11,000 cases of riding without helmet detected in Assam in December

The state transport department along with state police and excise department has taken up strict enforcement against driving without helmet by both rider and pillion rider, drunken driving and over-speeding of vehicles across the state in order to achieve zero accident on December 31 this year.

Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has directed the state police and transport department to conduct strict enforcement against drunken driving across the state.

The exercise is being carried out by police, transport and excise department officials and since December 1, more than 11,000 cases of riding without helmets have been detected by the Transport department.

As a part of the initiative to achieve the goal of zero accident on the last day of the year and overall reduction of accidents throughout the state, Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary flagged off 9 highly advanced Traffic Interceptor Vehicles (TIV)s today at Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati.

The newly deployed TIVs will be operational in Baksa, Dhubri, Hojai, Karbi Anglong, Morigaon, Sivasagar, Kamrup, Lakhimpur districts and also will be used by the Central squad of the Commissioner of Transport.

Earlier 15 numbers of TIVs were deployed and 11 numbers of Speed Guns were distributed for effective enforcement of traffic regulations.

It may be mentioned that the TIVs are fitted with Automatic Number Plate Recognition System (ANPR) Camera, which may be used not just in detecting over-speeding cases, but also for other offenses like non-wearing of helmet, seat belt etc. along with  breath analyzers to enforce against drunk driving.

Transport Minister Patowary called upon the people of Assam to abide by the traffic rules to make Assam accident free and save precious lives.

“On 31st December 2020 and 1st January 2021 alone 29 lives were lost in 69 accidents. By following all the traffic regulations, let us move towards 2022 with a pledge to make Assam roads accident-free,” Patowary said.

Chandra Mohan Patowary also chaired the State Road Safety Council meeting today. The meeting was attended by representatives from Assam Police, State PWD, NHAI, NHIDCL, Excise, Health, Education etc. The Minister reviewed the action taken by the stakeholders on implementation of road safety laws in the State.

During the meeting, it was discussed that in the last 3 years, from 2018-2020 the state has seen 23,191 numbers of road accidents which claimed 8803 number of fatalities in these accidents. The paining fact is that about 56% of the death victims were in the age group of 18-35 years, the most productive age group. Of all these accidents, 6149 numbers of two wheelers were involved. Noticeable point is that about 75% of the road accidents have happened due to over-speeding.

The Transport Minister asked NHAI, NHIDCL and state PWD to take proper steps and correct measures in respect of damaged signage, potholes, crash guards, rumble strips, etc within 15 February 2022.

Principal Secretary, Dr KK Dwivedi asked the Health Department officials to identify and upgrade hospitals along the highways as Trauma Centres.

He also asked NHAI and NHIDCL officials to construct truck bays to avoid accidents on the highways.

Hiren Nath, ADGP (SB); Adil Khan, Commissioner of Transport and other senior officials were present in the meeting.