Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police, in coordination with the State Transport Authority (STA), organised a training programme on road safety and scientific crash investigation for police personnel and other stakeholders in Kataka.
The programme was held at the office of the Inspector General of Police, Central Range, under the supervision of IGP Satyajit Naik, with technical experts from IIT Madras, who serve as technical consultants to the STA, imparting specialised training to the participants, officials said on Tuesday.
The focus was on strengthening the scientific approach to investigating road crashes, including examination of crash scenes, identification of contributing factors, collection and preservation of evidence, crash reconstruction, analysis of circumstances and preparation of investigation reports.
The participants were also sensitised to the importance of using investigation findings to formulate preventive measures aimed at averting similar crashes in the future.
Addressing the participants, IGP Naik said every road crash provides information about gaps that need to be addressed and that scientific investigation can help identify those gaps and facilitate appropriate preventive measures.
He underlined the need for close coordination among police, transport authorities, road-owning agencies and technical experts to translate crash investigation findings into effective road safety interventions.
The programme also highlighted the importance of reliable crash data and technology in strengthening road safety management in the state. The STA has been working towards a data-driven approach through initiatives including improved road safety data management and development of a Road Safety Dashboard.
Integrating scientific crash investigation with reliable data could help identify accident patterns, vulnerable locations and contributing factors, enabling agencies to undertake targeted interventions, said officials.
Technical sessions conducted by IIT Madras experts focused on the analytical and technical aspects of crashes. The training emphasised that investigations should not be confined to identifying immediate causes but should also examine road engineering deficiencies, vehicle-related issues, human factors and other circumstances contributing to crashes.
Transport Commissioner-cum-Chairman of STA, Amitabh Thakur, who attended the valedictory ceremony as the chief guest, underlined the importance of scientific investigation, technology and coordinated action in improving road safety.
He urged the participants to apply the knowledge gained during the programme in their field-level responsibilities and contribute to strengthening the road safety system in Odisha.
Certificates were distributed to the participating officers at the conclusion of the training.
The initiative is part of efforts by Odisha Police and the STA to promote scientific, technology-enabled and evidence-based road safety practices, with greater emphasis on prevention, investigation, data analysis and coordination among different stakeholders.