Don't issue driving licences to underage people: Transport Minister
National Road Safety Month 2024
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 30 2024: Transport Minister Khasim Vashum has flagged concern over the Traffic police personnel assuming the role of Transport officials and causing inconvenience to the people.

He made the remark during a road safety mobile awareness campaign held as a part of National Road Safety Month 2024 at Mani-pur State Transport office at Moirangkhom, today.

The Road Safety Month which began today will conclude on February 14. At the launch function, Khasim Vashum asked the Transport Department to not issue driving licences to underage people and through bribery.

Don't issue driving licences to underage people: Transport Minister

Saying that anyone driving a vehicle must possess a driving licence, he added that owning a vehicle fitness certificate is also important to minimise the risk of accidents caused by vehicle malfunctions.

The Transport Minister further said that District Transport Officers (DTOs) and enforcement personnel of the Transport Department need to look into the inconveniences being faced by people due to checking of documents by the Traffic personnel and do the needful.

Urging the Transport officials to utilise its personnel in checking vehicle documents too instead of entrusting it entirely to Traffic personnel, Khasim Vashum maintained that the responsibility of the Transport Department is to monitor and regulate all the activities related to transport services and vehicle mobilisation.

Acknowledging that there is shortage of manpower at the Transport Department, Khasim Vashum added that the responsibility taken by the department with the limited staff is laudable.

He appealed to the Transport officials to promote traffic safety guidelines and awareness among the public including those at remote areas during the Road Safety Month.

Saying that many people have been killed due to reckless driving by minors, the Transport Minister appealed to all parents to not hand over vehicles to their underage children.

The Transport Department also shouldn't issue driving licences to underage people or anyone by taking some money, he said and maintained that those who seek to get driving licenses must be trained at the driver training school.

Transport Deputy Director Dr David Elangbam and Secretary Micheal Achom also attended the programme, among others.

A pamphlet published by the Transport Department as a part of the Road Safety Month listed the kinds of fine which drivers have to pay in case of traffic violations and the figure of accidents which took place in 2022 and 2023 .

The number of accidents in 2022 was 820 and 672 in 2023 while the figure of fatalities in 2022 was 122 and 102 in 2023 .

The number of injuries in road accidents, on the other hand, stands at 698 in 2022 and 570 in 2023 .