In response to recent road accidents in Srinagar, particularly the tragic Tengpora incident that claimed the lives of two young children, traffic authorities have ramped up efforts to improve road safety across the region.
Swinging into action, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Kashmir checked a total of 2,338 vehicles, including school buses, delivery trucks, and personal cars.
It was found that 586 drivers broke various traffic rules, ranging from not wearing helmets or seat belts to overcrowding vehicles and lacking valid fitness or insurance papers.
Officials seized 11 vehicles and collected fines totalling ₹7.98 lakh. The highest fines were recorded in Srinagar, amounting to ₹2.22 lakh, followed by Kulgam and Ganderbal.
RTO Kashmir's Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari stressed the need to contribute to making the roads safer. He called on teachers, community leaders, and religious figures to help raise awareness about road safety. He stated that creating safer roads requires shared responsibility among all citizens.
In response to the Tengpora accident, the Srinagar Traffic Police initiated action by stepping up enforcement measures over three days.
The police seized over 300 vehicles for various violations, which included underage driving. They focused on issues such as driving without a license, failure to wear seat belts and improper parking.
Ravinder Pal Singh, the SSP Traffic for Rural Kashmir, instructed his officers to concentrate their enforcement efforts in rural areas.
On November 16, 2024, a specific traffic drive resulted in 1,144 fines for violations such as speeding and reckless driving. Singh made it clear that they will not tolerate underage driving and are conducting counselling sessions to educate the community about the dangers of allowing minors to drive.
The crackdown has highlighted that ensuring road safety is a shared responsibility among parents, authorities, and the community at large.