Speaking at the inauguration of a two-day road safety workshop at Visvesvaraya Hall in Lucknow, Singh underlined the growing risks associated with rapid expansion of expressways and high-speed corridors across the state. The workshop brought together officials from transport and allied departments from across Uttar Pradesh to strengthen enforcement and improve accident prevention strategies.
Highlighting systemic issues, Singh said obtaining a driving licence in many foreign countries involves rigorous testing and strict compliance, whereas the process in India remains comparatively easy. He cautioned against issuing licences merely to boost numbers, stressing that only fully trained and competent drivers should be authorised to operate vehicles on public roads. He added that errors in the learning licence system were being addressed and officials had been directed to intensify monitoring during the issuance of permanent licences.
The minister said Uttar Pradesh’s size and rapidly expanding road network have increased traffic density and exposure to accidents, particularly on expressways. “This training programme is aimed at reducing fatalities and improving accountability on the ground,” he said, adding that participating officers would be required to submit detailed, area-specific reports after the workshop to identify accident-prone zones and recommend corrective measures.
Singh also outlined a series of enforcement measures introduced by the state government to improve road discipline. He said the “No Helmet, No Fuel” rule had already been implemented to encourage helmet use among two-wheeler riders. Building on this, the government has mandated that two-wheeler dealers provide two helmets at the time of vehicle sale, with registration denied if the requirement is not met.
Describing road safety as a serious challenge, Singh said stricter rules alone would not be effective without consistent enforcement and behavioural change. The workshop, he noted, is designed to provide both technical and practical training to officials so that safety norms are implemented uniformly at the grassroots level.
According to the Transport Department, the campaign will culminate in concrete policy and enforcement actions aimed at reducing road accidents and associated deaths across the state. Officials believe that improved licensing standards, stricter compliance checks and targeted interventions on high-risk roads could significantly bring down the fatality rate in the coming months.
