SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh is making strides in road safety, showing a 8% drop in road accidents and a commendable 14% reduction in fatalities from January 1 to July 14, 2023, compared to the previous year. This feat brings the state closer to the UN Assembly's resolution of cutting road fatalities by 50% before 2030.
Accidents causing injuries have also taken a downturn, decreasing by 18% during the same period, thanks to the combined efforts of Railways, Roads, and Traffic police and transport and civic bodies in Himachal.
However, concerns persist over rash driving on hilly roads by utility vehicle and truck drivers, as well as young drivers speeding recklessly, leading to tragic losses.
Another concern among citizens in the capital city including Kagnadhar, New Shimla is that they are distressed over alleged misuse of power by traffic police.
They claim that innocent citizens are being unfairly targeted with e-challans, even in residential areas without parking zones and even in during off-peak hours.
Leaving these concerns aside, in a bid to maintain the positive trend of drop in road accidents and fatalities, the Himachal Pradesh Police has secured Rs. 7.34 Crore fund recently to bolster road safety initiatives across the state.
This allocation will bolster modernization efforts and strengthen the workforce. The ultimate goal is to establish an advanced traffic management system, involving all stakeholders, fostering a safety-first driving culture across both state roads and national highways.
Emphasizing the collaborative nature of road safety efforts, HP DGP Sanjay Kundu stressed the importance of cooperation between various agencies to achieve the shared goal of saving lives on the road.
"Our focus is to promote safe driving habits on the challenging hill roads of Himachal Pradesh," Kundu asserted.
This commitment to road safety holds the potential to significantly enhance safety on hilly roads, with active involvement from law enforcement agencies, including the police, transport department, and civic bodies, all playing pivotal roles in ensuring pedestrian and vehicular safety within cities.
Recognizing road accidents as a global concern, Himachal Pradesh Police has been adopting modern traffic regulation equipment, yielding positive outcomes.
As of now, 49 Intelligent Traffic Management Systems have been implemented at various locations on national and state highways, informed Narbir Singh Rathaur, a police officer in HP Railways, Roads and Traffic.
This effort has led to the issuance of around 28,223 traffic violation challans. Moreover, a remarkable 425,522 e-challans have been processed through POS machines and Android phones, with 25% of these being paid online, he said.
To enhance enforcement, traffic police personnel have been equipped with cutting-edge tools like alco sensors, 4G body-worn cameras, and laser speed guns.
In response to the worrisome increase in road accidents, Himachal Pradesh Police, in conjunction with the state's transport department has formulated a comprehensive strategy to minimize accidents and fatalities.
"We have allocated a substantial Rs. 7.34 Crore as Road Safety funds to boost equipment and workforce capabilities," Kundu revealed.
With the acquisition of modern equipment, including interceptor vehicles, traffic patrolling vehicles, ITMS, and various safety tools, Himachal Pradesh Police is committed to aligning with the UN General Assembly's resolution to slash road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50% by 2030, he claimed.
This equipment procurement sets the stage for effective road safety enforcement, even as the number of vehicles and pedestrians on state roads continues to rise.
Despite optimism expressed by the DGP, will these measures, combined with awareness campaigns and diligent enforcement, work toward the goal of curbing road accidents and fostering a culture of safe driving across the state?
