It’s nice to see the Delhi Traffic Police now focussing towards truck drivers. On Friday, All India Motor Transport Association with Delhi Traffic Police organised a health check-up camp for truck drivers at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar. They even distributed 1,000 spectacles to drivers whose eyes were weak. In fact this is a welcome sign by the cops as most of the accidents in Delhi happens at night and mostly truck drivers are responsible for these accidents in some way or other.

DCP (Traffic/North) H.P.S. Virk, addressed the truck drivers and asked them to concentrate on three important aspects of driving which can considerably bring down the accident rate. First, he said, is that drivers should stick to their lanes. Secondly they should avoid overtaking from wrong side. Thirdly, they should avoid over-speeding.

I have driven a lot at night and it is a nightmare to drive between those giant trucks. Situation is worse on GT Karnal Road and even NH8 at Gurgaon border as road space is less there.

Virk also had some instructions to the owners too. Everyday there are breakdowns of trucks and trailers, which have a massive impact on traffic movement during the daytime. So he asked the owners, who were also present on the occassion, to regularly check the engine of their trucks. Tyres should be roadworthy and the owners should also take care of maintaining the body of the trucks. Owners should also direct their drivers not to carry excess load on the trailers and trucks. Virk says, “Lot of our traffic problems will be solved once these trucks are kept in fine running condition.”

On Saturday too road safety exhibition was arranged by the traffic police at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar for these drivers. I appreciate the efforts being taken to educate these drivers by traffic cops, as they are the most neglected among the lot of drivers. And it is necessary to educate them because they are the ones who virtually govern our lives. If they drive perfect, we car drivers and car passengers are safe. But if they don’t obey rules then we are gone.