Ranchi: The district transport wing has begun measures to curb over-speeding and rear-end collisions after two major crashes in East Singhbhum and Ranchi districts this week.Four youths, including minister Deepika Pandey’s daughter Yuvika Singh, were killed on Wednesday night when their speeding car rammed a stationary truck from behind in East Singhbhum. A day earlier, several drivers were injured in a serial collision in the Tamar area of Ranchi district.Transport office data shows rear-end crashes are the leading accident pattern in the region. In the first seven months of the year, 56 persons died in 87 cases of hits from the back. Hit-and-run incidents killed 51 people in 53 cases, while four persons died in nine head-on collision cases.In response, the district transport office has decided to form teams for regular road surveys and to ensure vehicles are not left dangerously stationed on carriageways.District transport officer Akhilesh Kumar said he has issued an order to constitute teams comprising motor vehicle inspectors and a road safety engineer to identify dangerously parked vehicles that could trigger accidents. He said sensitive points, including Booty More, would receive special attention.Kumar said the transport office would also write to the National Highway Authority of India to ensure vehicles stranded on roads because of accidents, breakdowns or technical snags are removed without delay. Where vehicles are loaded with heavy materials and cannot be shifted immediately, NHAI would cordon off the stretch to alert motorists and prevent further collisions.The department has also planned a school drive to stop minors from driving vehicles. Officials believe many students are riding two-wheelers despite being underage, and said the practice must be checked through awareness, enforcement and coordination with school authorities and parents.The initiative will focus on preventing high-speed driving, improving visibility around disabled vehicles and reducing risks at night, when stationary trucks and sudden obstructions are harder for drivers to spot safely in time.
