Patna: Bihar police have announced a crackdown on road safety violations, warning that both vehicle owners and drivers will face severe punishment if accidents are caused by overloading.
Sudhanshu Kumar, Additional Director General of Traffic, said on Friday that cases will be filed under Section 105 of the Indian Penal Code (BNS) and other provisions, with a minimum sentence of 10 years.
The announcement follows a string of deadly accidents linked to overloading. Seven people were killed in Masaurhi on February 23, four in Dumriya on May 29, three in Adarsh Nagar on July 31, and nine women in Daniyawan-Shahjahanpur on August 23. Investigations are ongoing.
The crackdown also extends to child safety and underage driving. Authorities said cases would be filed against minors caught driving autos, tempos, or e-rickshaws, while responsibility would also fall on owners and guardians. Strict action is also planned against unsafe school buses after a child died in Jehanabad when he fell through a hole in a bus floor.
Officials stressed that riding in cargo autos or e-rickshaws remains banned. New traffic measures in Patna will also restrict auto parking to 50 metres before or after intersections to curb congestion.
Passengers have been urged not to board overloaded vehicles and to report violations. “There will be no compromise at any level,” Sudhanshu said, adding that children would be taught traffic rules in schools to instil awareness from an early age.
Authorities also confirmed that checks on unfit buses would be intensified, with unsafe vehicles removed from service.
