Kozhikode: It seems the roads in Kerala are set to become safer as the traffic cops are to be freed of other duties that diverted their focus from the critical functions that ensured smooth flow of vehicles and safety of public. All the traffic police stations in the state would turn into traffic enforcement units from September 1 onward. With the changes, the head of the traffic enforcement units will be the station house officer of the existing traffic police station. With the new system, the state plans to use the manpower from traffic stations for better traffic enforcement and thus reduce the number of accidents.

The main focus of the enforcement units would be on traffic point duties, manning mobile patrols, enforcement of Motor Vehicles Act, removing obstructions for smooth traffic flow, enforcement of traffic discipline, organising traffic diversions as well as upkeep and maintenance of all traffic equipment and prescribed records. They should provide special attention near schools and to women, children, senior citizens and disabled people at the road crossings. The units should also organise road safety awareness drive, training for drivers, road users, public, students and others to ensure better road safety.

The cases that have already been registered at the existing traffic police stations will continue to be investigated by them and their documentation and follow-up in the courts would be done from the concerned traffic enforcement units. However, all the new cases should be registered and handled by the local police stations.

The decision to convert the traffic stations to enforcement units comes after studies revealed alarming increase in the number of accidents in the state, making it is one of the top accident-prone states in the country.

As per the new decision by state police chief Loknath Behra, following a Cabinet decision taken in June, all the traffic accident cases would be registered at the concerned local police station, starting from September 1. Duties pertaining to the investigation, charge-sheeting, follow up of trial, and providing documents to Motor Accident Claims Tribunal will be done by the local police in the respective jurisdictions. The traffic police personnel should reach the scene of road accident immediately, guard the scene of crime, render first aid and shift the injured to the hospital without any delay. The same should be intimated to the local police and they should assist them in preparing FIR/ accident report if required, the directive by the DGP reads.

The orders say the local stations should not give low priority to the accident cases. In all such cases, immediate action should be taken to release the vehicles to the registered owners, after proper checks and cases should be disposed on merits, without any undue delay.