Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Crack down on over-speeding: Barnala

CHENNAI: Expressing concern over the increasing number of accidents, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala on Saturday favoured strict enforcement of laws to bring down over-speeding and negligent driving.

“If necessary, laws have to be passed to cancel the driving licences of those who indulge in over-speeding and negligent driving,” he said, participating in the annual conference of St. John Ambulance here.

Besides giving training in first aid, St. John Ambulance should conduct camps to sensitise the youth to the evils of rash and negligent driving. This, the Governor said, would help reduce road accidents to a great extent.

Complimenting St. John Ambulance on its plans to conduct first-aid classes for students of Chennai Corporation high and higher secondary schools, Mr. Barnala said they should be extended to students in rural areas, too.

Hospitals that refused to provide first aid to accident victims should be penalised. The public were also scared of providing help to victims during the golden hour, fearing police harassment, he said. There was a need for awakening among the public to help accident victims during the crucial period.

S. Rajeswaran, judge of the Madras High Court, said the present day youth were in a state of unrest. Their energy should be streamlined for the benefit of society.

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