Deterrent action against erring drivers must

Chennai: Despite Tamil Nadu topping the country in fatal road accidents, the transport department had taken little action against erring drivers who were involved in drunken driving or fatal accidents.

According to transport department statistics, 15,642 persons died in 69,059 accidents in the state last year. It increased from 15,563 fatalities recorded in 66,238 accidents in 2013. However, the number of licences cancelled by transport department recorded a steady decline in the corresponding period.

In 2013-14, the department cancelled 110 drivers licenses, while it came down to a mere 23 in 2015-16. As many as 6,293 driving licences were suspended in 2015-16 as against 5,871 the previous year.

Strangely, the transport department data shows a steep fall in cancellation of drivers’ license of those involved in drunken driving. Only 4,057 licenses were suspended and 622 cancelled in 2015-16 as against 12,657 licenses that were suspended and 1,568 cancelled in 2013-14.

A senior police officer said the transport department has to act on the recommendation given by them for suspension and cancellation of driver’s license of those involved in drunken driving and fatal accidents.

When contacted, a senior transport department official said they had acted on all  recommendations by police department following due procedures. N. S. Srinivasan, traffic and road safety expert, blamed the  lack of enforcement mechanism for drivers’ getting away without facing any action. “Only in cities the drivers’ are being checked for drunken driving or overspeeding. In rural areas, there is no enforcement at all,” he said, adding sustained and consistent enforcement of law against drinking and driving had proved to be an effective public deterrent.