Most pvt buses, trucks don’t use retro-reflective tapes: Govt survey

The transport department has conducted a survey across the state to assess the usage of retroreflective tapes at the back of vehicles which help in spotting during the night and can prevent accidents. Officials said on Thursday that it was found that the use of reflective tapes by private buses and trucks was negligible. The reflective tapes are mandatory for vehicles to lessen the chances of hits from the rear. The recent Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways report states that countrywide incidents of vehicle hits from the back had the largest share of the total accidents 212 and the number of people killed 186 in 2021. During the survey transport department officials observed vehicles at one particular spot for two hours in every district to ascertain how many of them were using the reflective tapes they also examined the vehicles kept at police stations after accidents. The report has been forwarded to higher authorities for appropriate action. Joint transport commissioner Pradeep Kumar said that currently it is not possible to divulge the findings of the report, but it is certain that the provision would be implemented strictly. The reflective tape helps the driver coming from behind to spot vehicles ahead better and take preventive action. Kumar also said normally the fitness certificate is not given to vehicles without the reflective tapes, but the material needs to be replaced every two years which is not done by