A high-level road safety review meeting was convened at the Lead Agency Secretariat for Road Safety/Office of the Transport Commissioner on 23rd August 2024. In the review meeting, senior officers, including the Transport Commissioner, Additional Commissioner, Traffic, Hyderabad, officials from Health, Medical & Family Welfare, Roads & Buildings (R&B), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Joint Commissioner, Traffic and Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) Traffic from Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Rachakonda Commissionerate’s, the additional Commissioner of GHMC, and the Senior officers of HMDA, participated. Hon’ble Minister for Transport, Sri Ponnam Prabhakar addressed the officers on this occasion on the importance of Road Safety and reducing the fatalities by the collective intervention of all departments. The meeting focused on the implementation of road safety measures in line with the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety (SCCoRS) directives.
Key Decisions Taken:
1. Identification of Black Spots:
Utilizing data from 108 ambulance services and police records, high-priority accident spots (Black Spots) were identified in each district. Detailed plans have been prepared for a combined team of R&B, Traffic Police, Transport, Health Department, GHMC, and HMDA officers, NHAI to conduct thorough field-level reviews of these spots, aiming to implement targeted safety measures.
2. Review of Emergency Services:
The meeting reviewed the efficiency of ambulance services and the availability of critical care facilities along major accident-prone routes. The discussion emphasized the need for improved ambulance response times and better coordination between ambulances and hospitals to ensure swift medical care for accident victims.
3. Legal Enforcement of Road Safety Laws:
In line with the SCCoRS instructions and the Motor Vehicles Act provisions, the concerned departments will take legal actions, such as suspension of driving licenses, against serious road safety offenses, such as drunken driving and wrong-side driving.
4. Enhancement of Traffic Education:
Traffic education outreach will be expanded to include educational programs for intermediate students and the establishment of Traffic Rules Awareness Parks in schools. These initiatives aim to foster a culture of road safety from a young age.
5. Increasing Pedestrian Walkways (Foot over bridges):
The meeting emphasized the need to increase the number of pedestrian walkways on national highways wherever necessary. This measure is aimed at enhancing the safety of pedestrians and reducing the risk of accidents on busy highway stretches.
6. Review of Fatalities and Injuries:
During the meeting, the total number of accidents and the severity of injuries in the year 2023 were reviewed. The committee noted that a total of 22,903 accidents occurred, including 7,186 fatal accidents, 2,476 grievous injuries, 10,404 minor injuries, and 2,747 normal injuries. These statistics highlight the urgent need for the implementation of effective road safety measures across the state.
7. Regular District Road Safety Committee Meetings:
Monthly District Road Safety Committee meetings will be conducted with participation from all key departments, including Transport, Police, Traffic Police, R&B, Health (Emergency 108 Services), GHMC, and HMDA (in GHMC Area). These meetings will focus on reviewing every road fatality in the district, identifying causes, and developing strategies to prevent future accidents.
8. Video Conference with District Officials:
A video conference was held with district officials from the Transport, Police, R&B, GHMC, and HMDA departments to review the progress of the monthly District Road Safety Committee meetings. The officials discussed the status of Black Spot inspections and remedial measures.
Ongoing Coordination:
The Lead Agency Secretariat for Road Safety/Office of the Transport Commissioner will be conducting this coordination meeting at regular intervals to review the progress of the decisions taken. Additionally, these meetings will ensure continuous monitoring and implementation of the directives issued by the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety.
These decisions reflect the collective commitment of the Transport, Police, Health, Medical & Family Welfare, Roads & Buildings, NHAI, GHMC, and HMDA Departments to reducing road accidents and enhancing the safety of all road users across Telangana.