Emphasises need for firm regulation, monitoring systems, and penalties to address truck-related risks
New Delhi: Vijay Shankar Chaturvedi, a prominent social worker and senior journalist, has raised serious concerns over the increasing disorder and rising number of road accidents on national highways, urging Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to take immediate and stringent corrective measures.
Rising Threat from Indisciplined Truck Movement
Chaturvedi highlighted that the unchecked and indisciplined movement of trucks on highways has emerged as a major threat to public safety. Heavy vehicles frequently occupy multiple lanes, overtake recklessly, and often trap smaller vehicles in prolonged congestion and hazardous situations, significantly increasing the risk of accidents. As a result, road users face growing safety concerns.
Undermining the Purpose of Highways
Ideally, expressways and national highways were designed to ensure fast, safe, and organised traffic flow. However, widespread indiscipline among truck operators is undermining these objectives. In particular, the situation is especially dangerous for small vehicle users, women, senior citizens, and families travelling long distances.
Call for Dedicated Truck Lanes
In response, calling for urgent reforms, Chaturvedi urged the government to designate exclusive and clearly marked lanes for trucks on all national highways and expressways. He further emphasised that strict enforcement is essential to ensure that heavy vehicles remain within their designated lanes and do not encroach upon fast or middle lanes.
Demand for Strict Penalties and Accountability
Moreover, he recommended stringent penalties for violations, including heavy fines for first-time offenders, suspension of driving licences for repeated violations, and permanent cancellation of licences in cases of habitual non-compliance. Additionally, he called for fixing accountability on truck owners and introducing provisions to seize vehicles involved in repeated violations.
Need for Strong Monitoring and Enforcement
At the same time, stressing that road safety depends not only on legislation but also on effective enforcement, Chaturvedi advocated for enhanced monitoring mechanisms such as CCTV-based surveillance, automated challan systems, and increased highway patrolling.
Appeal for Immediate Government Action
Finally, appealing to the central government to prioritise citizen safety, he urged the immediate implementation of a robust policy framework to ensure that India’s highways become safer, more disciplined, and free from fear for all road users.
