Here is letter of MLA Bholath, Sukhpal Singh Khaira to the chief minister Punjab on increasing accidents and road safety.
To
S. Prakash Singh Badal,
Chief Minister, Punjab.
Subject : Urgent need to regulate traffic in Punjab to save precious lives like Capt. Kanwaljit Singh being lost in thousands annually due to road accidents.
Dear Badal Ji,
In the death of Capt. Kanwaljit Singh we have lost a sober politician with a vision and immense experience as a parliamentarian. His death is an eye opener to the chaotic conditions prevailing on the roads in India in general and Punjab in particular.
Since, I have been raising the issue of road accidents in the Vidhan Sabha, you would be surprised to know that approx. 3500 deaths occur due to reported road accidents in Punjab annually. Had such large number of people died in any developed country, prevention of road accidents would have been one of their main priorities, unfortunately that is not the case here. There isn’t a family in Punjab that hasn’t lost a near and dear one in road accidents yet we fail to realize the gravity of the problem.
During the peak of terrorism in Punjab the loss of 10 lives would make headlines in the newspapers whereas loss of 10 lives in road accidents which is an average daily fails to even raise eyebrows. The other day 24 precious lives were lost on way to Naina Devi which was a second fatal accident due to same reasons on same route within one year, yet no corrective measure. Day after day families have been wiped out, therefore, I would suggest that the Govt. wakes up to take strict preventive measures.
I would suggest that the govt. set up a Traffic Regulatory Authority in Punjab. The traffic police force and the District Transport authorities must be brought under this authority. At present the traffic police and DTO’s merely indulge in harassing and challaning vehicles with a purpose of making money. I had during Capt. Amrinder Singh’s tenure given a blue print of the proposal but unfortunately the DGP and the then Transport Secretary opposed the move lest they loose their authority. This authority could bring all policemen presently deployed for bogus duty such as security of VIP’s etc. on the road, enforce strict discipline. Why drivers on entering Chandigarh learn and obey all traffic rules, merely because the enforcement of law is very strict.
In order to educate people about obeying traffic rules one chapter must be introduced in schools at the elementary level for minimum 3 days learning a week. Ambulances must be made available at every 25 kms on the national highways for the injured with appropriate communication equipment. Strict patrolling by police vehicles must be undertaken at regular intervals on the highways. CCTV cameras must be put on all major roads of the state.
Further many such preventive measures alongwith strict enforcement of law can be taken and if need be some legislative changes can also be made to instill more fear in the minds of the drivers.
In this context, I would suggest that the govt. set up a committee of elected representatives and officers to find a solution to tackle this menace at the earliest or else we would keep loosing people like Capt. Kamaljit Singh. This committee can pick up an already existing traffic regulatory system of a developed country and enforce those systems in Punjab. I also offer my services for this noble cause to save precious human lives of the brave Punjabi’s.
With regards
Sukhpal Singh Khaira
MLA Bholath
