The district administration and traffic authorities in Visakhapatnam have launched a month-long drive to mark National Road Safety Month, aiming to cut accidents and improve behaviour on the city’s roads. The initiative, led by District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad and Police Commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi, brings together engineering, transport and public transport officials to coordinate awareness, enforcement and training activities.
Visakhapatnam road safety targets training and enforcement
At the Collectorate, Mr Harendhira Prasad released pamphlets and posters outlining the campaign and urged officials to make the district accident-free. He called on engineering teams to ensure clear road markings and signboards and asked that technology be used to deliver safety training. The Collector highlighted the need to concentrate on two-wheeler riders, pedestrians and schoolchildren, groups that account for a large share of road casualties.
Police Commissioner Bagchi directed the traffic police and Transport Department to hold regular awareness sessions during the month. He said that motorists who violate traffic rules should face a three-month suspension of their driving licence, and that drunken driving must be addressed firmly to deter reckless behaviour.
Officials from the transport sector are taking a practical approach to the campaign. District Public Transportation Officer B. Appala Naidu met APSRTC representatives to outline activities for the month. The discussions covered adoption of technology for driver training, routine medical checks and incentives for safe behaviour among public transport drivers.
Depot managers were asked to organise structured safe-driving training sessions for bus drivers and to conduct periodic medical examinations to ensure drivers are fit for duty. The administration also proposed presenting awards to drivers who maintain accident-free records as a way of encouraging professional standards and rewarding safe performance.
Local engineering officials received instructions to prioritise visible road markings, functional signboards and other low-cost engineering measures that help reduce confusion and improve safety for all road users. Emphasis will also be placed on improving pedestrian facilities near schools and busy market areas.
The campaign combines awareness, enforcement and incentives. Awareness sessions and school outreach aim to instil safe habits among young road users, while stricter enforcement seeks to deter habitual offenders. The use of digital tools for training allows authorities to reach larger groups rapidly and monitor outcomes more effectively.
Participants in the meeting included Deputy Chief Traffic Manager K. Padmavathi, Deputy Mechanical Engineer A. Gangadhara Rao, depot managers and other officials. Together they outlined a schedule of activities for the month, from classroom sessions and public campaigns to roadside checks and driver assessments.
Officials said progress will be monitored and adjustments made as the month proceeds. With a mix of education, engineering and enforcement, Visakhapatnam’s authorities hope to cut road injuries and fatalities and build longer-term habits that keep roads safer throughout the year.
Key Takeaways:
- District administration and police launch month-long National Road Safety Month campaign in Visakhapatnam.
- Focus on training two-wheeler riders, pedestrians and schoolchildren using technology and periodic medical checks.
- Traffic enforcement measures include three-month licence suspension for violators and zero tolerance for drunken driving.
- APSRTC to provide driver training and awards for accident-free records, reinforcing Visakhapatnam road safety goals.
