Roads of Ludhiana which claim around 18 lives per month in mishaps can turn more dangerous as in an eye check-up camp organised at Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar Inter-state Bus Terminal here on Thursday on the account of 24th road safety week, of the 160 bus and three-wheeler drivers examined, 75 diagnosed with bad eyesight.
The figure is alarming and these drivers are still driving vehicles on the road, increasing the vulnerability to mishaps.
The figure has worried the officers of district transport and police, who are taking the matter seriously.
The district transport office has organised the eye check-up camp at the bus terminal for government bus drivers and three-wheeler drivers.
A team of eye specialists from the civil hospital conducted the camp, while district transport officer (DTO) Manpreet Singh Chhatwal was also present at the camp.
The team of eye specialists found that the eyesight of 85 drivers satisfactory, while 75 had bad eyesight and have been asked to get their eyes checked examined properly and to take treatment.
Aghast at the figures, the DTO said the figures were disturbing.
He said the office would hold such camps in the future to examine the eyesight of the drivers.
"I will write to the deputy commissioner and higher transport authorities for change in rules of renewal of driving licence, especially drivers of commercial vehicles and drivers who carry masses in their vehicles, the DTO added.
He said the office would hold such camps in the future to examine the eyesight of the drivers.
"I will write to the deputy commissioner and higher transport authorities for change in rules of renewal of driving licence, especially drivers of commercial vehicles and drivers who carry masses in their vehicles, the DTO added.
Chhatwal said he would refer eye testing from specialised eye surgeons during renewal of driving licence and would make a system of examine eyesight for every applicant during trials for new driving licence too.
During a brief talk with the DTO, the doctors at the camp attributed malnutrition and wrong diet for weak eyesight.
The doctors also said most of the drivers avoid wearing glasses, which was another reason for poor eyesight.