Highway accidents likely to come down, say experts

Highways in the state are set to get safer thanks to the restored power of the state highway police which can now penalise motorists violating traffic rules. Experts say with the highway police getting more teeth, at least a couple of thousands of lives are likely to be saved.

According to statistics available with the highway police, about 12,000 people are killed every year on the state highways and at least 75,000 accidents are recorded every year.
With the new powers, like the city traffic police, the highway police too can book traffic offenders for rash driving, over-speeding, drunken driving and talking on the mobile phone under the Motor Vehicles Act.

“Finally, we have the powers to penalise traffic offenders. It is these petty offences that lead to fatal accidents,” said Arup Patnaik, additional director of police, Maharashtra highway police. “This will ensure that our highways are safer,” he added. Maharashtra has eight highways.

So far, the highway police did not have any power to penalise traffic offenders. In case the patrolling men came across traffic offenders, they would pass on the details to the local police.

“But then again, the local police would never be on the spot and there was absolutely nothing we could do,” a senior highway traffic official said on condition of anonymity.

“Almost every other driver on the highways could indulge in rash driving, causing major accidents and mishaps. This will no longer happen and we can enforce more discipline on the highways,” he added.

Senior highway traffic officials said that drunken driving and over-speeding were the main culprits that led to fatal accidents. Meanwhile, a dozen each of breathlysers and laser speed guns which the highway police had, just for namesake, will finally be put to use.

“Finally, we will use them to penalise traffic offenders. We are also planning to procure more equipment,” said Patnaik.