Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government’s efforts to improve road safety, like capping the speed of long-distance passenger buses at 80kmph and introducing GPS-based monitoring, have significantly reduced accidents since April.
Transport officials said on Thursday that accidents involving long-distance buses earlier averaged 10 to 15 cases a day. These have come down to zero or one a day now.
After a series of major bus accidents, the transport department made Speed Limiting Devices (SLDs) mandatory, restricting the maximum speed of buses to 80kmph. SLDs are linked to a GPS-based monitoring system connected to a central control room that tracks buses round the clock.
Any attempt to exceed the prescribed speed or tamper with the SLD triggers an alert, enabling the control room to identify the vehicle through its registration number and location.
The details are verified through the VAHAN database, following which local transport officials are alerted to inspect and, if necessary, seize the vehicle for violations.
A seized vehicle is released only after due legal procedures are completed.
The state has around 1,500 to 1,800 long-distance passenger buses, including vehicles from neighbouring states passing through Andhra Pradesh. Of these, nearly 1,300 buses registered in the state have been fitted with SLDs and GPS tracking systems.
Officials said bus operators initially opposed the measures but later acknowledged the operational benefits. Maintaining regulated speeds has reduced fuel consumption, resulting in substantial savings.
On the Vijayawada-Bengaluru route, operators estimate diesel savings of 50 to 70 litres per trip, reducing fuel expenditure by around `5,000 to `7,000.
The department is also examining steps to improve safety in goods transport. Officials said they are working on a mechanism to address long driving hours by truck drivers, which often lead to fatigue-related accidents. Plans are under way to install Vehicle Location and Tracking Devices (VLTDs) in commercial goods vehicles to enable continuous monitoring from the control room.
Transport joint commissioner (enforcement) Sivarama Prasad said the speed regulation and monitoring system helped reduce accidents involving long-distance buses while ensuring safer travel for passengers and lowering operating costs.
Road safety data show that AP recorded 15,279 road accidents resulting in 6,796 deaths in 2024, while 15,462 accidents claimed 6,433 lives in 2025.
Officials said roadworthiness of vehicles, driver fitness and road engineering all play an important role in preventing accidents.
Commuters have urged the authorities to prevent unauthorised parking along road margins, which remains a major cause of accidents.
They want the mobile police vehicles’ personnel to ensure no unauthorised parking of vehicles on the road margins which are a major cause of road accidents.
Transport authorities note that apart from vehicle roadworthiness and condition of the driver, faulty road engineering also plays a significant role in causing accidents.
Year – Accidents (All Vehicles) – Deaths
2024 15,279 6,796
2025 15,462 6,433
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
