The District Road Safety Committee meeting, presided over by Ganjam district Collector Premchand Choudhary, was held here on Wednesday.
Regional Transport Officer Sanjay Kumar Biswal gave the welcome address and explained the steps taken to contain road accidents. Collector Choudhary said that though the number of vehicles was increasing, but the roads are not expanded and developed proportionately, causing accidents.
To create awareness on road safety among the public, `5,000 each was given to 100 schools of the district. It was instructed to verify the licences and whether or not helmets used of the students who use motor cycles. The Collector also directed the petrol pump owners not to give petrol to those who do not use helmets. Bike sellers were also instructed to give helmets free of cost while selling bikes.
The NHAI was directed to modernise all the toll plazas and make them autonomous.
It was revealed that the main causes of the road accidents were using mobile phone while riding and avoiding helmet. The Regional Transport Officer informed that 2,734 licences were cancelled this year for reckless driving.
It was decided that the staff members of the RTO, hospitals, NGOs and the petrol pump owners would participate in the National Safety Council meeting to be held in the district.