Speed governors, GPS likely to be made must for vehicles

Ongole: In a bid to check the road accidents, the State government is considering to make it compulsory to install speed governors and GPS on motor vehicles, announced the Transport, Roads and Buildings Minister Sidda Raghava Rao on Monday at a public meeting in Prakasam district.
The Minister performed Bhoomi Pooja for the Institute of Driving and Traffic Research (IDTR) at Venkatachalam Palli near Darsi where the Minister for Social Welfare Ravela Kishore Babu was the chief guest.
Being established in Darsi as part of the IDTR scheme by the Union government, the institute would be constructed in 20 acres at a cost of Rs 18.51 crore, out of which Rs 16.345 crore would be be provided by the Central government and Rs 1.69 crore would be spent by the Maruti Suzuki India Ltd towards vehicles, simulators and safety equipment.
The IDTR will be managed by a team comprised of both Govt and Maruti Suzuki officials and will impart training to 1,000 fresh drivers every year apart from offering refresher courses for 14,500 heavy vehicle drivers and 4,000 drivers of vehicles carrying hazardous goods.
It will also train 500 people for driving every year who can seek self employment. It is expected to be completed by March 2018.
After that it would become compulsory for the heavy vehicles drivers to attend refresher course before renewal of their license every 3 years. It will also keep them updated with latest technologies on road, vehicles and driving.
Citing the western part of Prakasam distruct as underdeveloped, Rao said that the Chief Minister is always encouraging the legislators to take up works for bringing development. Changes brought in the transport department are now paying back and the department has achieved more than last year, he added. Police and transport officials are conducting special drive to create road safety awareness for 10 days every month and have booked nearly 16000 cases last month on violators, he said.
As new vehicles are capable of reaching high speeds in less time with which the drivers are not accustomed to, the Chief Minister advised his ministers to consider it to make compulsory of installing speed governors and GPS systems in each high speed vehicle. It would help them to come to know about the nature and type of road coming ahead. “We are also in favour of his suggestion and it can be implemented soon,” he added.
Sam Bob, special Chief Secretary of Transport department said, “Negligence of drivers is the reason for majority of accidents. Thirty per cent drivers do not have a valid license. Another 30 percent don’t know about basics of road safety guidelines. We should be very careful towards them. Once the IDTR is completed, these problems would be sorted out.”
Transport Commissioner AP Bala Subrahmanyam, Joint Transport Commissioner Prasada Rao, president of Road Safety Department in Maruti Sujuki India Ltd Mahesh Rajoria, MLAs David Raju, Bala Veeranjaneya Swami, SP of Prakasam Ch Srikanth, Joint Collector Hari Jawaharlal, Lorry-owners Association President Eswara Rao and other officials of the transport department participated in the meeting.