Ranchi Traffic Police will now take action against parents whose children will be found riding two wheelers without having valid licenses.
Taking a serious note of the death of three school children due to over speeding at Airport Road on Sunday, Ranchi Traffic Police has also formed squads for catching youths driving bikes and also doing stunts.
“We have formed four squads manned by traffic constables in each of them, which will not only catch the erring youths on bikes but also call their parents for counseling and fine them after making them furnish a bond that such an activity will not be repeated again by their kids,” said Traffic SP Sanjay Ranjan Singh. Action against the parents of underage youths found riding bikes on the road will also be taken, he added.
Incidentally, three school students – Amit Vishwas, Harsh Kumar Sinha and Aman Kumar Murmu, were killed after their over speeding bike dashed with the divider near the Airport. Police said that Murmu, who was riding the bike, lost control over the over speeding bike and dashed on the divider and the nearby electric pole leaving them seriously injured. They were immediately rushed to the hospital and were declared dead during the treatment.
In addition to that, Ranjan said that engineers of Road Construction Department have also been asked to identify sharp curves and turns inside the city and mark them so that it becomes visible from a distance.
“We have also asked them to broaden the road at the corners or wherever it is required to avert such accidents,” said the Traffic SP.
Besides, a special campaign was started from Monday in schools and colleges where Traffic officials talk to the students directly and tell them about the advantages of following traffic rules and wearing helmets.
“Today we are at Nirmala College in Doranda where we are trying to communicate with the students directly and making them aware about the traffic rules by giving them certain examples,” Ranjan said.
District Transport Officer (DTO) Nagendra Paswan was also was of the view that the parents must be strict in this regard and should not get carried away with their feelings when it comes to providing bike to their children.
“As parents are directly responsible for providing bikes to their immature and underage children, they must not allow them go out on bikes,” said Paswan. The district administration is also conducting awareness programmes through various mediums to make people aware in this regard, he added.
“Awareness programme all over Ranchi is also being conducted through FM Radio and through audio visual vehicles at various locations in Ranchi, telling people that traffic rules must be followed to avert accidents on roads and also appealing people to wear helmets while riding bike,” Paswans said. In addition to that, all School administrations in Ranchi have already been intimated to ensure that no student below 18 years of age comes to school on bike, he added.
“And if anyone found coming on bike in schools, their parents must be called by the Principal who will do their counseling so that they do not allow bikes to their children,” said the DTO.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand High Court, while hearing a PIl filed by Dewan Indraneel Sinha demanding similar traffic arrangement in the State Capital as was done during Momentum Jharkhand conclave, taking strong note of the incident on Sunday, also asked the Traffic SP to take proper steps for improving traffic system to avert such accidents.