Patna: As part of the National Road Safety Month, a comprehensive campaign is set to kick off in Bihar, focusing on installing reflective tape on vehicles to enhance visibility during foggy conditions. Transport Secretary Sanjay Kumar Aggarwal has issued directives to all District Magistrates, urging them to engage in extensive public awareness efforts for safe vehicle operations in foggy weather.
The initiative includes installing reflective tape on vehicles and conducting thorough vehicle checks to ensure compliance. District Transport Officers, Motor Vehicle Inspectors, and Enforcement Sub Inspectors have received instructions to spearhead awareness campaigns and special investigation drives related to reflective tape usage.
Transport Secretary Aggarwal emphasized the importance of road safety awareness programs, utilizing tools such as the Jagrookta Rath (Awareness Chariot), road safety oaths administered in various institutions, and special vehicle checking campaigns. With the winter season bringing increased fog, reducing driver visibility and escalating accident risks, the installation of reflective tape is expected to play a crucial role in minimizing road accidents.
In 2022, fog and haze led to 2,275 road accidents, resulting in 1,842 fatalities and 1,449 serious injuries. The reflective tape special checking campaign will target vehicles such as pickup vans, tractors, autos, and other commercial vehicles. Offending vehicles found without reflective tape will face fines and corrective actions, including on-the-spot tape installation.
The Transport Department is actively running campaigns to promote traffic rule awareness and conducting vehicle checks to ensure compliance. Secretary Aggarwal stressed the need for precautions to prevent road accidents, citing their potential to save numerous lives.
As part of the campaign, the Transport Secretary offered practical advice to the public on safe driving practices during fog. This includes continuous adherence to traffic rules, avoiding unnecessary travel during fog, using indicators consistently, following painted road marks in dense fog, affixing radium stickers on vehicles, maintaining safe distances, installing fog lights, and exercising caution while overtaking.
Conversely, the public is urged not to stop vehicles in the middle of the road, drive overloaded, exceed speed limits, talk while driving, drive beyond capacity, use mobile phones, overtake around narrow culverts, perform stunts on the road, or drive if feeling sleepy. These guidelines aim to foster responsible driving practices and reduce the risk of accidents during challenging weather conditions.
