Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of the opposition Pinarayi Vijayan claimed on Wednesday that the recent spate of reckless driving and fatal accidents in Keralam was the consequence of UDF’s political opposition to the traffic enforcement measures introduced during the tenure of his govt.He cited the Nedumbassery crash, allegedly caused by a drunk driver, in which three people were killed, and the Cheranalloor incident, in which a minor allegedly killed a roadside eatery owner while driving dangerously. He also cited the Thiruvalla incident, where people stopped a speeding car driven by an 18-year-old after it hit several vehicles. Roads are turning into a playground for criminals and people must recognise those responsible, he added.LDF govt had strong schemes to prevent accidents and ensure traffic discipline, including curbs on dangerous vehicle modifications, AI cameras and proper checks. UDF had ridiculed and opposed these systems for political gain, wanted to cover traffic cameras with baskets and had said it would remove them if voted to power. These encouraged violations and indiscipline, he alleged.The atmosphere of fear and the continuous loss of lives on roads were partly a result of that politically-motivated attack on road safety and traffic laws, he alleged. He claimed that those who led the effort to undermine traffic discipline must share the responsibility for the lives lost. He called on UDF to correct itself and show sincerity in enforcing the law.
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