Auto accidents spark concerns in Vizag

In the wake of two tragic accidents involving autos carrying school children, one at Sangam-Sarath theater where an auto collided with a lorry and another auto overturned in Madhurawada, once again reignited the debate on the indiscipline of auto drivers in Visakhapatnam. The incidents have prompted a call to action, with officials and law enforcement pledging to address the reckless behavior of auto drivers and enhance safety measures for school transportation.
From January to October this year, the city witnessed 300 accidents, resulting in 376 fatalities and 1000 serious injuries. Of these, 100 accidents were attributed to autos, causing 16 deaths and injuring 150 people. The alarming statistics underscore the urgent need for addressing the undisciplined behavior of auto drivers.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Deputy Commissioner of Transport Department, Rajaratnam said “we have launched special inspections along with city police and conducted checks simultaneously at areas which are prone to traffic violations including Maddilapalem, NAD, and Gajuwaka to address the growing concerns about overcrowded autos. Wednesday’s inspections led to the seizure of 28 autos found in violation of passenger capacity regulations. Today, we have registered 16 cases against auto-rickshaw drivers for overloading, with five additional autos seized as part of the ongoing crackdown.”
To ensure passenger safety, officials emphasize that there should be a maximum of six people per auto-rickshaw. Authorities have issued a stern warning, stating that a penalty of Rs 1000 will be imposed if an auto is found carrying between 8-10 passengers. In cases where more than 10 people are found in an auto, the authorities have the right to seize the vehicle. Rajaratnam stated, apart from imposing fines, we have also taken a proactive approach by conducting counseling sessions for auto-rickshaw drivers aimed to create awareness about the importance of adhering to traffic regulations, especially concerning passenger capacity.
In response to the accidents, District Collector A Mallikarjuna formed a task force committee comprising officials from the Police, Transport, Education, Inter Board, and GVMC to focus exclusively on school autos, buses, and mini-buses and on safety and other issues to prevent such incidents in the future. The task force will play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of students during their commute to schools in Visakhapatnam, he added
District Education Officer Chandrakala, who visited the parents of the injured students, expressed concern. She stated, “Procedures will be made to ensure that autos/buses carrying students run at low speed and regularly monitor the vehicles for fitness.” With about 3.7 lakh students studying in 1,385 schools in the district, the Education Department has decided to collect details of school autos, buses, and mini-buses. A meeting of the task force on the 24th will discuss safety measures and other issues related to school transportation.