An official reported on Friday that during the month of November, the transport authorities of Odisha issued 35,144 e-challans and impounded 1,275 vehicles for breaking Motor Vehicle (MV) norms.
State Transport Authority (STA), Odisha, began a two-month special enforcement campaign to increase safety, decrease accidents, and eliminate fatalities from November 1.
A total of 35,144 e-challans have been issued in Odisha during the first month of the special drive against vehicles that flagrantly flout MV laws. According to Lalmohan Sethi, additional commissioner of transportation, 1,275 vehicles and 5,868 DLs have been seized for suspension in the past month (enforcement and road safety).
According to him, the enforcement campaign is concentrated on driving without a seatbelt or helmet, driving while intoxicated, driving too fast, using a cellphone while driving, teaching young people to drive, inspecting the roadworthiness of the vehicle, driving on the wrong side of the road, driving without a registration mark, and unsafe parking.
For a variety of offences, fines have been issued. 9,416 challans were issued for exceeding the posted speed limit while 15,661 challans were issued for operating two-wheelers while not wearing a helmet.
According to Sethi, the authorities have issued 622 challans for triple riding, 225 for driving on the wrong side of the road, 38 for driving while underage, and 510 for overloading.
Due to ongoing enforcement efforts, more people are wearing helmets in urban areas than on highways, where protection is sadly far more necessary, according to the STA official.
He reported that 1,452 persons were caught driving without a seatbelt throughout the drive, while 1,423 were determined to be driving while intoxicated and were fined accordingly.
Sethi added that from November to February, there were more fatalities and accidents.
The campaign’s goal is to increase road users’ sense of accountability for preventing fatalities and injuries from crashes during the winter months.
He urged drivers to observe traffic laws and be mindful of their safety when operating a vehicle.
Prasanta Patnaik