Justice Sapre stresses strict road safety enforcement in Mysuru

Mysore/Mysuru: Every life is invaluable and the ultimate goal must be to bring road accident fatalities down to zero, said retired Supreme Court Judge and Chairman of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Road Safety, Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre.

Presiding over a meeting of the Road Safety Committee at the Zilla Panchayat (ZP) Hall yesterday, Justice Sapre observed that while wars are fought with intent, road accidents occur without purpose yet claim nearly two lakh lives every year in India, a situation he described as deeply alarming.

Negligence primary cause

He said, negligence in wearing helmets and seat belts, along with overspeeding, remained the primary causes of road fatalities.

Wearing a helmet or seat belt does not require education but common sense, Justice Sapre remarked, noting that even highly educated individuals had lost their lives by ignoring these basic safety measures.

He stressed that a culture of strict adherence to traffic rules must be cultivated through sustained awareness campaigns coupled with firm enforcement by the Police.

Karnataka ranks fifth in country

Pointing out that Karnataka ranks fifth in the country in terms of road accidents and Mysuru district stands tenth, Justice Sapre said, officials must ensure quality road construction and take preventive measures to eliminate potholes and accident-prone black spots.

Referring to Mysuru’s status as a major tourist hub with heavy private bus traffic, he directed the Regional Transport Authorities to conduct regular inspections of buses for roadworthiness, valid Driving Licences and insurance compliance.

Justice Sapre also noted that rural areas account for more fatalities than urban centres and called for intensified awareness programmes in villages.

He suggested setting up a technical traffic park to provide interactive road safety education to the public.

He urged Government offices, companies, schools and colleges to make helmet use mandatory for staff and students commuting by two-wheelers.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) G. Lakshmikanth Reddy presented data on accidents, fatalities, identified black spots and corrective measures taken between 2020 and 2025.

City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar outlined the installation of surveillance cameras in accident-prone areas and measures adopted to prevent mishaps.

The meeting was attended by SP N. Vishnuvardhana, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer (CEO) S. Ukesh Kumar, Mysuru City Corporation Commissioner Shaikh Tanveer Asif, among other senior officials.