Kerala High Court Says Only 'New Driving Culture' Can Prevent Road Accidents

The Kerala High Court on Friday observed that only a "new driving culture" can prevent road accidents in the state.

Justice Devan Ramachandran noted that despite every effort of the court to ensure that accidents are minimised, it was distressing to know that road mishaps have continued.

"As this Court has been emphasising earlier, only if there is a new culture of driving, can such incidents be controlled, particularly in view of the fact that the number of vehicles are increasing day by day".

The Court also said it was concerned about the "reckless driving" by youngsters on the roads.

"They don't care even if we impose a fine," the court orally remarked.

The Deputy Transport Commissioner, Pramod Shankar, and Rijo P. Joseph, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Traffic East, appeared before the Court today.

It was informed by the ACP that steps have been taken to counter the issue, at least in the Cochin city. The court was also told that an enforcement drive has been begun to foster such a culture.

The drivers of transport vehicles and buses are also being effectively trained on a regular basis, with the intent to inculcate the concept of 'safe driving' in them, the ACP said.

The court was also told that drivers of transport vehicles are being warned that their licences would be cancelled in case of violation of law.

However, the court said that it would not delve further into the issue, but that it would await the orders of the division bench regarding it.

Special Government Pleader, Santhosh Kumar sought time to place on record the reports on behalf of the Transport Commissioner and the Police.

Overhanging Cables

The Court today also addressed the issue of overhanging cables, after it said that a lawyer had met with an accident due to an overhanging cable while he was on his two wheeler.

"What this court feared has now come true. Several Orders have been issued by the Court to remove the overhanging cables, anticipating such an eventuality, and it is a providential grace that the victim has only suffered minor injuries, which could have been potentially very dangerous", the court observed.

The Amici Curiae, Vinod Bhat and S. Krishna, were asked to examine the pleadings, and take up the matter with the Corporation of Cochin at the appropriate level, and then report the same to the Court.

The Standing Counsel for the Cochin Corporation was also directed to file a report on the same by the next posting date. The competent authority of the Cochin Corporation was also directed to be present for interaction on the said date.

The Court has posted the matters for consideration for after 10 days.

Case Title: Pauly Vadakkan v. Corporation of Cochin