Visakhapatnam: With increasing motor vehicle accidents involving two-wheelers on the 73-km National Highway stretch passing through Vizag city police have added some more much-needed steps to their rule book to minimise fatal accidents.
Henceforth, fast-moving vehicles should move in the right lane and slow moving in left lane on NH-16 stretch in the city.
Vehicles wanting to change lanes should do so only after using indicators and taking precautions. City traffic police also decided to act tough on the unnecessary use of high beams by drivers at night as the high beam headlights are also a cause for accidents.
Inaugurating the ‘Arrive Alive’, a campaign for safer roads, launched by city police at police stadium here on Wednesday, commissioner of police B. Shivadhar Reddy felt that road safety can be properly ensured only if the motorists have self-discipline to follow the traffic norms.
He expressed concern that city roads claimed 414 lives in 2013 and 75 per cent (310) of those killed in the road crashes were two-wheeler riders and pedestrians.
While the entire stretch of NH-16 in Andhra Pradesh (from Icthchapuram in Srikakulam to Nellore) is around 990 km, 20 per cent of fatal accidents have been reported on the 73 km NH-16 stretch that passes through Vizag city limits only. The police commissioner said that like last year, this year also they are focusing on some major issues and also would act tough against the errant motorists.
On Expressway, motorists should use right lane only for overtaking and fast moving vehicles should move in the right lane only, Reddy advised.
Road safety continues to be a major issue in Vizag city despite the city police’s efforts. There is a need for the police, in association with various departments, to bring about greater awareness on road safety. Even if 10 per cent of motorists violate traffic norms on the busiest roads, the deaths due to road accidents will be more, said DIG, Visakha Range, P. Umapati.
Participating as the chief guest, collector Solomon Arokia Raj said the city’s police efforts to educate youngsters and students about traffic sense will definitely have an impact and good results can be expected in coming few years.
During the week-long campaign ‘Arrive Alive’ for safer roads from January 22 to 28, city traffic police educate the students of various colleges and schools and youth on road safety and traffic rules and regulations said ADCP (Traffic), V. Suresh Babu.
Vuda vice-chairman N. Yuvaraj, SP?Vikram Jeet Duggal joint collector N. Praveen Kumar and others were present.
