Nine Recommendations for the Safety on Road both of the People and the Traffic Police

Abstract

Safety of people and traffic police on road and the provision of prompt and appropriate treatment of injured persons in road accident are urgent concerns. The nine recommendations accordingly made are 1) Considering anyone who informs about or brings to the hospitals the accident victims as innocent until proved otherwise, 2) Annual payment by all vehicle owners (as per the cost of vehicles) to generate treatment fund for any road accident injured patients in the free general (not paying or private or extended health service) outdoor or emergency clinics or ward of the public hospitals irrespective of anyone’ fault in the accident (insurance or other agencies may be assigned to handle the amount deposited and reimbursement of the payments to the hospitals), 3) Implementation of helmet wearing by motorcycle riders and pillion riders in motorcycles, 4) Stricter fine for hazardous traffic offenses, 5) Drivers of the larger vehicles should not automatically be held responsible for any accidents involving other smaller vehicles (to prevent smaller vehicles and motorcycles to drive recklessly), 6) Drivers should not be just held responsible to bear health expenses of injured patients (which is much more than the compensation required in the event of death of injured persons); this is to encourage drivers to take injured persons immediately to hospitals and prevent inclination to allow their deaths indirectly or directly; the drivers should be proportionately fined or punished as per the traffic regulations if they are found to be negligent, 7) Safe and visible platform for the traffic police to stay on the road, 8) Provision of cost-effective respirators for traffic police and traffic supervisors, and 9) Compensation for occupational hazards to the traffic police and field traffic supervisors by distributing to them adequate proportion (e.g. one-third to one-half) of the fund collected by stricter fine paid for the hazardous traffic offences. Provision of various allowances, including for hazards, and benefits is a common practice in the country. Compensation for the occupational hazards of the traffic police provides incentives to and motivates them to remain vigilant about hazardous traffic offenses day and night everywhere and, thus, is essential for the safety of the people.