Kerala

Make driving licence test more stringent

Traffic enforcement forms only a part of the measures to be taken to avoid accidents. Proper development of roads is an important issue. Road development should be commensurate with the development strategy for an area (permissible floor area ratio and so on) rather than the increase in the number of vehicles. Non-provision of parking areas within commercial establishments is leading to congested roads owing to unauthorised parking. In this context, proper adhesion to building by-laws is very important. Violation of building by-laws should be taken seriously and violators should be booked. Proper design of road intersections with road markings and signs is also important. The authorities should take immediate steps to develop the junctions at Medical College, Pattom, PMG, Vazhuthacaud, East Fort and so on where there is enough space but are not designed scientifically. Our National and State highways are choking with traffic. The State needs express highways for faster movement of traffic. The State should convince the Union government in this regard and take up projects before it is too late. Further, the public should be educated on the use of roads.

Binu Mangal

Thiruvananthapuram

Safety on city roads has become a matter of concern considering the increase in the number of vehicles and the deteriorating roads. Safety can be ensured only through cooperation between the people and the authorities.

The traffic police and other authorities can come up with stringent measures to ensure the safety of the road users.

For instance, the helmet rule. It is the discretion of the people to break the rule or follow it. But it is the duty of the authorities to enforce it. A tougher driving license test may be able to check the number of accidents only to a certain extent. The test checks a person’s know-how and skills but it is up to the authorities to check his behaviour while driving on the roads.

A higher fine may prompt the people to behave themselves. Road maintenance is shoddy. The situation is worse during the rains. The rest of the year, things are not very different, with the roads being dug up for various purposes. Appropriate implementation of various road safety measures at the right time, such as tarring of roads, is essential for ensuring better safety.

Anila Baby

Thiruvananthapuram

Most road accidents are caused by drunk driving. Although tougher punishments are welcome, all fingers point to the road conditions. The taxpayer is forced to pay 15 years of road tax while buying a new vehicle but potholes still rule the roads. To top it all, the so-called driving license test lacks a scientific basis.

The road conditions had improved when private players had a role in building them but that soon stopped changing governments.

Good roads are a must for economic development of the State. This will not only benefit the people but also the government. For instance, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation would not have to incur huge debts on account of spare parts. The government should start considering ways in which departments such as the Public Works, Electricity and Water can be unified for development of the roads.

Arjun Suresh

Thiruvananthapuram

Controlling the issue of driving licences and punishing errant drivers are preliminary aspects of road safety. The condition of roads is to be blamed most of the time.

Apart from technical requirements of surface roughness, camber and so on, the quality of materials used, the process employed and that of supervision are equally important.

Testing of samples with same specifications can throw light on the overall quality of the roads. The process of accelerated aging can help to find out how roads look after a specific period of time. Road research institutes in the State can take a lead in this respect.

Once made does not last for ever. There should be a regular mechanism to review the condition of the roads at fixed intervals as well as on an emergency basis. Weathering of roads does happen in developed countries such as the U.S. but they have a planned maintenance programme to combat this.

Social responsibility of pedestrians and road users is also a pertinent factor. Offenders should be punished then and there.

A forecast of the traffic for the next 10 years will help the departments concerned to plan for ring roads, roads with two-way traffic or one-ways, depending on population density, actual demand and emerging technology.

N.R.U.K. Kartha

Thiruvananthapuram

A tougher test for issuing licence and deterrent punishment for drunk driving form only part of an integrated drive against road accidents.

The licence of those who violate road rules should be cancelled. Modern technology should be made available to the traffic police to detect such cases. External interference should be thwarted when the police deal with traffic cases. The traffic police should be revamped with honest men in uniform.

Roads in a state of disrepair lead to accidents. The quality of road work should be ensured in the initial stages itself. Proper drainage facility should be provided while they are being laid. Additional roads and widening of existing ones is imperative to accommodate the increase in the number of vehicles.

Campaigns should be launched in schools to spread awareness of road rules.

N. Sadasivan Pillai

Andhra Pradesh

The increase in the number of road accidents may have led the government to construct footpaths. It is appreciable that priority is given to pedestrians’ safety on roads. Footpaths on narrow and congested lanes may appear redundant but it is certain that they will reduce the number of accidents. But if it constructing footpaths results in the roads becoming still narrower and affects smooth slow of traffic, they should be made one-ways and no-parking zones. Parking facilities should be provided at various points to prevent hardship to the people.

S. Paul Dhason

Thiruvananthapuram

The government tries to strictly enforce rules in the short term whenever accidents occur.

The pathetic conditions of the roads will only contribute to the ever rising number of accidents, especially those involving two-wheelers, in the State. It is the responsibility of the government to provide good roads for proper and smooth flow of traffic. Roads must be repaired in a time-bound manner.

They must be widened to keep pace with the increase in the number of vehicles. The traffic police should ensure that rules are strictly followed. Rash driving, drunk drivers, use of mobile phones should be checked and those guilty punished. Licence should be renewed every 10 years.

Renewal should be allowed only after checking the drivers’ vision, ensuring the condition of the vehicles and so on.

Jishi R

Kollam

The routine test that is conducted to issue drivers’ licence is insufficient and does not conform to the needs of the work involved in steering clear of road accidents and the chaos on the public roads, let alone fatal accidents. The training given to the drivers should be so oriented as to improve practical lessons to avoid accidents and face them with a steady hand and stable mind. Maybe this is a realm to be handled by psychologists. Their services should be made available to new drivers. Drivers who do not care for pedestrians and other vehicles should be punished severely. Their licence should be cancelled, property attached and they should be charge-sheeted for manslaughter.

K.P. Kanunakaran Nair

Thiruvananthapuram

Most of the accidents happen because of bad driving and the poor condition of the roads. Drivers should be given sufficient training. Punishment should be given for rash driving, overtaking, sounding horn, overloading and driving without licence and other documents. Many youths drive vehicles without valid papers and if caught by the police, usually, political leaders bail them out. The condition of the roads in the State is very bad.

Sreelakshmi Sankar

Kochi

The number of vehicles coming on to the roads in the State is increasing day by day, but the old vehicles are not being taken off service. If pooling system is arranged, or if people depend on public transport, the problems will be reduced. If the public transport system is made more effective and awareness is spread, there is every chance of the common man going for the public transport system.

Thripunithura S.N. Panicker

Poonithura

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