Dense fog has started showing up in the early mornings and the late evenings, as the temperature has started dropping and the winter season is getting more intense. Such heavy low-lying fog tends to decrease visibility which, in turn, can have a major impact on transport, with reduced visibility leading to delays and accidents.
To avoid the occurrence of accidents on roads, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Sugarcane Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, IAS officer Sanjay Bhoosreddy, has decided to make fluorescent paint strips mandatory for vehicles carrying sugarcane.
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, the senior officer shared details about the same.
CHANCES OF ACCIDENTS INCREASE IN FOG
The task of buying sugarcane from sugar farmers has already begun with the start of the crushing season 2022–2023. In winter, sugar mills continue to run and sugarcane is still bought. Along with that, chill and heavy fog continue to prevail during this time. As a result of this, there is a chance of collision between trucks or tractors due to the reduced visibility on the road.
Mr. Bhoosreddy said, “Due to the arrangement of reflectors or yellow lights and beacons on the regular traffic vehicles of the roads, they are visible from a distance, but the sugarcane farmers’ buggies, bullock carts, trolleys, etc. are either not fitted with the reflectors or they are fixed at such a place that when sugarcane is loaded on them, the reflectors get covered. Due to this, when the vehicle passes through the road carrying sugarcane to its purchase centres or mill gate, it is not visible from a distance. As a result of this, accidents can occur due to vehicles moving at high speed.”
BENEFICIAL FOR TRUCK AND TRACTOR DRIVERS
To prevent these accidents from happening, instructions have been issued by the officer to install reflector strips in the vehicles used for sugarcane transportation. Sugar mills and the cane officials will lay six-inch-long strips of red and yellow fluorescent paint on both the corners of the tractor trolleys and red and yellow fluorescent stripes on the front and rear bumpers of the trucks and iron on the rear side of the buggies used for sugarcane transportation.
“The fluorescent paint would be subject to the application regardless of whether the cane vehicles were equipped with reflectors or not. Fluorescent paint that glows when exposed to shortwave ultraviolet radiation will ensure clear visibility of vehicles in hazy weather conditions from the front and the rear sides,” said the officer.
ORGANISING CAMPAIGNS FOR INSTALLATION
The departmental officers have also been instructed to organise a campaign to put reflector strips on the vehicles used to transport sugarcane. This work should be done twice or three times throughout the season so that the reflectors sustain on these vehicles for the duration of the season and the visibility of the transport on roads and highways is not compromised.
“All the sugar mills will be required to make sure this job is done, in their particular regions. Moreover, the service would be provided free of cost in the public interest,” stated Mr. Bhoosreddy.
The senior officer has also instructed the zonal officers to meet the farmers in the sugar mill yard, give them information about other departmental works, and also obtain feedback from them so that if the sugarcane farmers are facing any practical problem, it can be resolved promptly. The regional officer will also ensure monitoring of the above from time to time during the crushing season.
