Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Oct 3: An awareness programme on road safety for drivers was organized by the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) in collaboration with Truck Union Association of District Kathua today.
While addressing the drivers, RTO Kathua Amarjeet Singh informed that there are 60 lakh truck drivers in India which constitute 2.5% of the labour force of the country and they are a major group which needs to be made aware on road safety measures. He said the high death rates on roads of which one person dies in every four minutes in the country causes 2-3% loss to the GDP.
He stressed that the major causes of the accidents are drowsiness, drugs consumption and poor maintenance of the vehicle and advised the truck drivers to stay away from drugs and take adequate rest to minimize the accident risk. RTO also advised them not to indulge in over loading as the department has launched a special drive in the entire State against over loading.
He informed that the RTO Office is going to start home delivery of driving license by speed post for which the applicant should deposit a self addressed envelope with the office at the time of deposition of license fee before taking the trail test.
“This is being done to minimize the frequent visits of the license seekers to the office”, RTO added.
During the awareness programme a medical camp was also organized by Health Department.
Later, President of Truck Union Association Bhupinder Singh projected various issues of transporters among which the issuance of fitness certificate of all the old vehicles was chiefly projected.
RTO Kathua assured them that their issues would be taken up for early redressal.