“Life is short, don’t make it shorter” is not the refrain of any spiritual celebrity but a warning from the transport department to accident causing drivers due to their rash and negligent driving.

Though careful driving costs nothing, seldom one cares for it and in the process not only risk their lives but also become executioners for others.

In India about 80,000 people die every year in road accidents resulting in an estimated loss of about Rs 5,000 cr. However, the quantification of loss in monetary terms does not really bring the harrowing picture of social sufferings.

Hundreds and thousands are rendered incapacitated for life besides throwing a number of families virtually on to the streets. With safe driving increasingly becoming a casualty, the roads are virtually transforming into death traps.

A new handbook ``Chalakarigagi Margadarshi’ (A Guide for Drivers) brought out by the Transport Officers Association of the State government makes a sincere attempt to sensitise drivers and restrain them from indulging in rash, negligent and careless driving.

It is a maiden attempt perhaps made by anyone so far to address the issue of safe driving, road safety, traffic signs and signals, etc in a simple and direct manner.

Its comprehensiveness is evident as it addresses the entire gamut of issues involved in safe driving right from obtaining driving license to claiming compensation by accident victims.

The book is the brain child of Raichur Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Shivaraj Patil who took the initiative to bring out a short but comprehensive and useful guide to drivers by the Transport Department Officers Association. By bringing out a rare and useful book the association has made its presence felt.

80-page booklet

The 80-page booklet deals  on all aspects of driving including obtaining driving license for different types of vehicles, rules of the road, duties of driver, vehicle parking rules, safe driving skills, standards of head lights, maintenance of vehicles, and traffic signals and signs.

More importantly it also dwells on environment pollution due to vehicular emission and also sound pollution both of which will have a disastrous effect on the health of people.

To obtain a license to ride a gearless vehicle one should have the consent of their parents. Minimum age required to drive a geared vehicle is 18. For heavy vehicles like lorry, truck, bus, etc; it is 20 years.

The book is of much use as it details the procedure to be followed and fee to be paid for obtaining learners/regular license, making a claim for compensation in case of accidents, maintenance of vehicle in proper condition, reasons for cancellation of license, punishment and fine for various offenses under the MV Act.

The book priced at Rs 40 is available at all the RTO offices in the State.