Decision of Supreme Court
We appreciate the decision from Honourable Supreme Court of India on Banning of liquor shops. This may stop drunk driving.
However we understand that anywhere in the world, but much less in India. There are limitation of restriction & prohibition one can always obtain liquor from other normal sources and still Drink & Drive. The purpose may not be achieved and the accidents death and injuries to innocent people shall continue.
We humbly suggests to Honourable Supreme Court and people in authority\ government to act as order.
- Anyone caught of drunk and drive must be loose his license for a period and permanently, if offence is repeated.
- Ensure to share on media prominently the Drunk drivers to warn all others and convey beware.
The Road To Change firmly believe that, it is extremely easy to take forward what is proposed above. This shall certainly achieve the object of the Honourable Supreme Court.
The Road To change initiates the campaign of petitioning the Honourable Supreme Court to consider the above proposition and pass appropriate orders.
Innovative Ideas on Better Traffic Management
- The theme is to increase the speed.
- WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THIS ?
a.Artificial blockages-cars that do not stop before the zebra crossing and block the way for the others cars. If these blockages can be removed then the speed of the vehicles will automatically increase. At the signals many vehicles cannot move faster and let the traffic flow because they get blocked by the traffic on the other side of the road.
b. Vehicles should not be allowed to stop in between the roads,at every turning of the road,before or after the signal.
c. Double parking of vehicles after the signals should not be allowed even if they are stopped by a traffic officer,they should stop at the side of the road where they do not block moving flow of traffic.
d. All vehicles should follow lane discipline.
e. Proper signalling should be used for lane changing.
f.Vehicles that want to change lanes should not block the traffic moving in that lane.
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED !
The lack of traffic discipline, best driving practices and infrastructure management leads to traffic fatalities resulting in economic losses which require greatest collective efforts from the government authorities and private initiatives involving ngo, educational institutions, corporate and public at large.
There is an immediate requirement to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries and the consequent personal and financial loss, by developing a public and private partnership to promote the best driving practices, enforcement of traffic regulations and ideal management of traffic infrastructure.
What one observes is there is an increase in breaking signals, wrong parking’s (Double-triple parking), and this should be part of traffic police initiative to enforce rules and regulations. In fact by such initiative the Traffic Commissioner will be able to improve the movement of traffic and reduce the travelling time by more than 20%, this will also help in better use of infrastructure.
In cities like Mumbai, we have good infrastructure of roads and bridges, but it seems that because of misuse and poor conditions, one third of infrastructure is not used. We believe that if such misuse is prevented than overnight there shall be increase of 50% of infrastructure and thus improve traffic conditions and may come as a great relief to Traffic Department and its officers in management of traffic.
The joint commissioner of police(Traffic) Mr. Milind Bharambe has been doing excellent work and with reasonable support from public, he shall change the face of traffic movement and road safety in Mumbai.
Let all of us come together to create public support system voluntarily for a better experience of driving and usage of roads in our country.
The Suggestions are Welcome !
BMC’s plan to tackle congestion in the island city
In a bid to decrease congestion, the BMC has proposed hiking parking charges across the city, in the western suburbs and eastern suburbs, to Rs 60 per hour, Rs 40 per hour and Rs 20 per hour respectively. The move is aimed at acting as a deterrent against owners using private vehicles. The body has further banned paid parking within 100 meters of any educational institution. Special permits have been introduced for residents’ parking on roads. This is being done to deter people from parking for long hours. Additionally the BMC should come up with plans to tackle unauthorized and free parking which has caused a lot of menace in the already congested city.
After the policy is sanctioned by the committee members, it will be put up online to seek public opinion on the same.We too look forward to your suggestion on the same to tackle congestion and support us to take up better governance. You can send your suggestions to info@theroadtochange.org.in
US cops amazed at how well Indian police handles policing.
An article in the Economic times dated 6th December 2013, mentioned how US police chiefs from Los Angeles, Austin and Aurora were amazed at the way their Indian counterparts handle the policing challenge due to the sheer volume of the population. Art Acevedo, the Chief of Austin Police Department, said he was taken aback by the policing complexities in India and said police here had done really well. “Watching a cop here controlling the traffic is like watching a ballet,” a US cop said. Given the volume of the population to be handled and the magnitude of law enforcement required, Indian cops have done a commendable job. All that is needed, is some cooperation and initiative from the citizens to support the police on various civic issues to bring about a positive change in the society.
School bus safety policy released by government.
The school education and sports department, government of Maharashtra, has issued the school bus policy formulated by a committee set up by the department on July 23, 2008. The resolution has over 30 guidelines, which include the setting up of a transport committee in every school to look into matters pertaining to the safe transportation of its students, identification of bus stops, vehicle fitness and the requirement of an annual common standard agreement between the school and the bus contractor.
Revised Guidelines
A. Every school shall have a transport committee to look into the matters pertaining to safe
transportation of school children, transportation fees to be structured area wise, identification
of bus stops and vehicle fitness. The committee shall be headed by Principal of the school
and shall have one PTA representative as well as the Bus Administrator of the school,
Traffic/Police Inspector of the respective area, Inspector of motor vehicle/Asst Inspector of
motor vehicle of that area, education inspector, representative of bus contractor and
representative of local authority. The committee shall meet every six months prior to
commencement of each semester.
B. The Principal of the school shall be responsible for safe transportation of school children and
shall take appropriate steps for day to day supervision of the manner in which the
transportation of students is carried out to and from the school. Further, the school shall
enter into a Common Standard Agreement (CSA) with the transporters and shall administer
the School Bus Service through the Bus Administrator.
C. The school authorities shall be responsible for conducting one day refresher course of First
Aid and fire extinguishing techniques twice a year before the commencement of semesters.
D. The school authority shall employ adequate number of Traffic Wardens in consultation with
traffic police with a view to regulate the traffic and safe passage of children during the
opening and closing of school hours. The salary of these Traffic Wardens shall be paid by
the school authorities.
E. The school administration in consultation with and the help of traffic police and local authority
will ensure that necessary road markings and road signs are installed near the school as
well as the signs of ‘No Parking except for school buses’.
F. No school shall allow any student to come to school by vehicles other than school buses
provided by the school. However, this shall not be applicable to those students who walk to
school, and who are using public transport (excluding Taxi and Auto rickshaw) or where the
school is unable to provide a bus route and to those students who are ill and require a
separate arrangement for transportation as prescribed by registered medical practitioner,
and to those students who have to leave the school on account of some emergency,
G. Wherever available, the school authorities shall provide for space inside the school
premises, in order to ensure safe alighting and boarding of the school children from the
vehicle.
H. A medical certificate in form 1 A issued by a doctor holding minimum qualification
of M.B.B.S or above, certifying the health of the driver and his vision by an
ophthalmologist, shall be submitted by the driver of such vehicle to the school authority
annually. The concerned school management who own buses and or the transporter shall,
on failure by the driver to do so shall prohibit the driver to drive such a vehicle and intimate
the statutory authorities immediately.
I. The school children shall be suitably insured by their parents and the bus owner shall obtain
third party insurance for every vehicle and also abide by the Insurance Cover points
mentioned in the CSA.
J. The transport contractor shall employ lady attendants for girls and co-educational schools
and male attendants/cleaners for boys schools. A distinct uniform shall be prescribed for the
driver, the lady attendant and the male attendant/ cleaner, for identification. Identity cards must be issued by operator to be displayed by all staff on duty.
K. First Aid box with necessary medicines and equipment shall be kept in the vehicle and the
same shall be checked by the Principal/Authorized person every month. The attendants
should be provided with a mobile phone by the transport contractor.
L. Every school bus shall carry information of students indicating his/her blood group and
contact numbers in case of emergency as well as the bus route paper.
M. Two fire extinguishers of ABC type, capacity 5 kg each and bearing ISI mark, is required to
be kept in every school bus, one in the drivers cabin and the other in the rear, near the
emergency door of the bus.
N. No such seating shall be permitted which can block the emergency door of the bus.
O. The school bus operator shall follow the terms and conditions agreed in the Common
Standard Agreement (CSA) with the school authority and the same shall be binding on both
parties.
P. Each Bus must carry the required License/RTO Papers, PUC & Insurance Covers
Q. Buses have to adhere strictly to the given school timings.
R. Routes and Bus Stops as specified by the school must be strictly adhered to.
S. Route Numbers must be clearly displayed on the Front & Boarding side of the Buses.
T. Buses must not carry children more than the Specified capacity of the Buses.
U. No smoking or consuming alcohol by the Bus Staff on duty
V. Lady Attendants/ Male attendants-Cleaners must assist children whilst they are boarding &
alighting from the Buses. They should also check the ID of the Attendant coming to receive
the child. Children of Primary Schools shall be received at destination stops by authorized
persons. In case of children of Junior & Middle schools, if the student ID card has a tick in
the box of attendant and if no attendant is present at the stop, then the child is to be brought
back to school
W. Playing of Music by bus staff is not permitted on the Bus
X. No Eatables or Drinks shall be offered to the children on the Bus by the staff unless provided
by the school
Y. The Transporter must inform the School about any changes to the Bus service at the time of
Bandhs/Traffic Jams/Accidents/Breakdowns/Road Blockages immediately. The school
authorities should ensure that the contractor has adequate alternative arrangement in case
of any exigencies through a provision in the CSA
Z. The Transporter or his supervisor must report all irregular incidents to the School.
AA. The doors of the Bus must always remain closed when the Bus is in motion.
BB. Fumigation of the Buses must be done on a regular basis to avoid mosquitoes/pests.
CC. The body and the inside of the Bus must be cleaned regularly. Air Freshener must be
provided in each Bus. No hazardous material shall ever be stored in the bus.
DD. The Male attendant-Cleaner & Lady Attendant on the bus must at all times see to the
Safety and well-being of the Students in the bus.
EE. Penalty charges will be applicable as per the CSA in cases of rules being broken, apart from
penalties that maybe levied by the Statutory Authorities.
The complete Government resolution can be viewed here School bus guidelines (Marathi and English)
Drunk driving can be fatal.
Drunk driving resulted in the death of a 42 year old man and his three children in Mysore. Never drink and drive/ride. It can be fatal.
The Road To Change 