Udupi : Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Santhosh Kumar said awareness on road safety should be created at schools.

Speaking at an interaction programme organised by Udupi Zilla Varthakara Hitharakshana Vedike in the town recently, the ASP said enforcement of law is not easy.

Legal literacy has become the excuse for all the violations, he remarked.

Kumar stated that an ignorant person can be taught right deeds. But it is very difficult to set the system right when the people who are well aware of rules and regulations commit offence. Most of the violations reported are from people who are well aware of legal knowledge, he observed.

Replying to a question, RTO Inspector Vishwanath Naik said motor vehicle rallies are a major threat to the environment. The poisonous gas released during the slow motion of the vehicles are two times dangerous than the normal speed. Self-awareness is the need of the hour, he observed.

He said his department is facing a massive staff crunch and it is impossible to deploy the officials at each junctions or pedestrian crosses. Six RTO inspectors were working some 20 years ago when the work was not even 1/10th of the present situation. But now, only four revenue inspectors are working and the work has increased exponentially, he added.

Naik said the pedestrian footpaths are overcrowded with vendors. The riders and drivers do not maintain the speed limit within the city limits. Overtaking from left side is an offence and most of the times, the offence is easily committed despite knowing the repercussions, he said.

Replying to another query over traffic congestion from Triveni Hotel to service bus stand, the RTO inspector said the possibilities of making the main stretch into one way will be considered. The demand for zebra crossing and ramblers will also be looked into, he added.

The ASP said he would speak to Excise Department to check the illegal timing of the liquor shops in and around the KSRTC Bus Stand. A City Municipal Council (CMC) officer said the CMC is considering a proposal to build new market complex by demolishing the existing one. It is causing a number of problems in the area near the bus stand, he said.

Parking arrangements would be made after constructing the new market complex.

Additional toilets will also be built in the area. Sulabha toilet management would be asked to extend the toilet facilities to 24 hours as against the present timing which limits only to 12 hours, he said.

The illegal shops would be removed with frequent raids. But the vendors put up their shops once the officials go away from the scene, he added.