GUWAHATI, Oct 25 - Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has directed the Transport Department to be stringent in issuing driving licences and fitness certificate to vehicles in view of rising road accidents that have snuffed out many lives.
Gogoi asked the Transport Department to be strict in verifying papers and documents while issuing driving licences as rash driving has been one of the key factors for rising road accidents in the State.
The Chief Minister asked the department to take punitive measures against drivers under the influence of liquor. �Stringent action must be taken against drivers who are under alcoholic influence and involved in fatal accidents. Licences must be impounded for flagrant violation of road safety rules and putting lives of people at peril,� he said.
Gogoi also directed the Transport Department to be strict while renewing fitness certificates of heavy transport and other vehicles.
The Chief Minister asked the department to launch a drive against heavy vehicles plying on city roads without valid fitness certificates. �The motor transport inspectors will not only check fitness of vehicles, but will also examine if vehicles have reflective tapes and tail lamps in working condition,� Gogoi said.
Absence of tail lamps and reflectors often lead to accidents at night as drivers of other vehicles fail to gauge the distance of the vehicle or even its presence, if vehicles are parked on the side of a road. �To avoid such mishaps, the inspectors will check if tail lamps are working and reflective tapes are fixed on either side of vehicles. The inspectors have to create awareness among the drivers on safe driving and instruct them to follow all necessary safety measures during night driving to avoid accidents,� Gogoi added.
Following alarming rise in road mishaps, Chief Minister Gogoi had asked IIT, Guwahati to come up with a comprehensive road safety and management plan.
