The efforts of the state highway police are paying off as the number of casualties on Maharashtra’s 33,705-km-long highways has dropped significantly.
The efforts of the state highway police are paying off as the number of casualties on Maharashtra’s 33,705-km-long highways has dropped significantly. The most heartening figure is the fatality count: 1,001 fewer highway deaths in 2009 (11, 398) than in the year before (12, 397).
The number of people who suffered major injuries has also decreased, by 2,658, in the year-on-year comparison, according to state highway police records. “We have positioned ambulances along the highways across Maharashtra. This has helped considerably in bringing down the number of casualties,” said Rajesh Bhansode, superintendent of police, state highway police. “The helpline numbers too have been useful,” he added.
But the most significant impetus was provided by the Bombay high court when in August last year it restored the punitive powers of the highway police. Since then, over one lakh drivers have been pulled up and fined for offences ranging from over-speeding, drunken driving and overloading. Currently, the highway police have 47 breathalysers and 18 laser speed guns to crack down on drunken and rash driving. “We are in the process of procuring more such equipment. It will certainly lead to a further decrease in the number of accidents and casualties,” said a senior official. According to him, drunken driving and over-speeding are the main causes for road accidents.
A government resolution (GR) passed in November last year also tightened the induction criteria for highway policemen: record of no major punishment, good conduct, and robust health. “After this GR was passed, the quality of our staff has definitely changed for the better,” said a senior highway police official.
Also, since the last six months, senior officers have been asked to personally patrol the highways to not only keep a check on drivers, but also monitor the conduct of their staff.
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