Crash Investigation Training Aims To Provide Scientific Understanding Of Accident Probe

Bhubaneswar: With an aim to offer a scientific understanding of accident
investigation processes and its relevance, a State-Level Crash Investigation Training programme was inaugurated at Police Commissionerate here on Monday.

Commerce and Transport Minister Padmanabha Behera inaugurated the first of its kind state-level programme in Odisha. Officers of Police and Transport
department will be trained on how to provide authentic data of an accident which in turn facilitates the designing of policy-level interventions for the reduction of road traffic accidents.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister said “Road accidents are a serious cause of concern for all of us. In the last decade, more than 45,000 people have lost their lives in road accidents in Odisha. The government is committed to reduce the fatalities.”

The training programme will enhance the skills of police and transport department officers for investigating a road crash with a holistic approach covering all possible causes, he added.

DGP Sunil Bansal emphasised the importance of licensing system and stressed upon making the process of obtaining driving license further stringent and robust.

Talking about the training programme, he said the trained and skilled investigators can provide important insights to both Enforcement and Road Owning Agencies in improving road safety scenario in the state.

Police Commissioner Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, SK Priyadarshi said “We cannot reduce accidents in the state through enforcement only. We all understand that more work and efforts are needed in the field of road safety. We have to have a synergy in the mission of saving lives.”

The capacity building programme is being organised by State Transport Authority in association with Odisha Police. Muskan for Road Safety, an NGO is the knowledge partner for training.

On the occasion, upgraded website of State Transport Authority, Odisha was inaugurated by the Minister. The revamped website is one stop solution for transport related queries.

Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport department Bishnupada Sethi and Transport Commissioner cum Chairman, Odisha Arun Bothra attended.

A total of 70 participants, 50 from police department and 20 from transport department will participate in the programme at each place.