Free Tea for Drivers at Night to Avoid Accidents Announces THIS Indian State
Free Tea for Drivers at Night to Avoid Accidents Announces THIS Indian State
Free tea for drivers at night to avoid accidents in Indian state of Odisha
In an attempt to reduce road accidents at night, the government in the eastern Indian state of Odisha has launched a novel initiative under which vehicle drivers will be offered free tea while driving on the highways.
“We have instructed the regional transport officers to identify the dhabas and apprise them of our decision of providing tea to the drivers at night. Dhabas would also be asked to allow drivers to take rest at their units for some time,” said state transport minister Tukuni Sahu .
The minister, however, did not clarify if this service would be provided throughout the year. The minutes of a recent meeting on road safety, convened by transport department secretary Usha Padhee, read that the facility would be available during the ensuing state road safety week from January 1 to 7. “A majority of accidents take place at night due to the drivers, especially the ones driving interstate goods trucks and picnic vehicles, feeling drowsy after being on the wheel for long hours without rest,” Sahu added.
Road accidents in India
According to the latest Global Status Report on Road Safety released by the World Health Organization (WHO), the annual number of road traffic deaths dropped five per cent globally to 1.19 million deaths per year, but the numbers rose in India.
The “Road Accidents in India 2022” report stated that the number of deaths reported in India due to road crashes in 2018 was 1,50,785 and it rose to 1,53,792 in 2021. The number was 130,000 lakh in 2010.
Last year, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in its report said deaths by road accidents in India had increased by almost 17 per cent in 2021 compared to 2020. Total road accidents reported were 403,000 in 2021, up from 354,000 the year before.
(With inputs from agencies)