Bhubaneswar: Citizens of Odisha can now assist the Transport department in enforcing traffic rules. They can report about riding without helmet violations through the next generation mParivahan App’s ‘Citizen Sentinel’ option, an official source said.
The Transport department is seeking active participation of citizens in enforcement of road safety through a sentinel application. Alert citizens can contribute to making Odisha roads safer and act as a force multiplier for the enforcement team, the source added.
The official source said ‘No Helmet’ violation can be registered in the Citizen Sentinel option by uploading the live video and image. One needs to capture violations of driving without a helmet (photo as well as video) on their smartphone and upload the same on the application. On the basis of inputs, e-challans will be issued by the State Transport Authority after verification, the source added.
Odisha Transport department sources said as per the data, in 2022, a staggering 34 per cent of the deaths in road accidents involved two-wheelers which are a common mode of transportation in Odisha. A total of 1,695 people lost their lives and 2,615 were injured due to riding without helmets.
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Additional Commissioner Transport, Road Safety & Enforcement Lalmohan Sethi said the department is seeking help from citizens to keep a check on those who ride without helmets. In the future other traffic violations will be added in the ‘Citizen Sentinel’ option.
Sethi said due to continuous enforcement activities people are using helmets in the urban areas but are unfortunately avoiding wearing helmets in rural areas and highways where protection is much more needed.
Sethi further said, “Even though it is mandatory, helmets are rarely worn by the pillion riders despite the similar risk of accidents like the driver. If riders take care of their own safety by wearing helmets, they should not risk the pillion rider’s safety.”
Sethi said “Citizens can upload photos and videos of both riders as well as pillion riders for riding without helmets. While clicking photographs and videos please ensure that the violation as well as the vehicle number is clearly captured in the photograph and video. Location, date and time of violation will be automatically captured from live images and videos uploaded.”
Sethi added that the identity of any person reporting traffic rules violations will not be disclosed.
UNI
