Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 16 (UNI) In a major statewide enforcement drive aimed at curbing the rising number of road accidents involving autorickshaws, the Kerala Police have suspended 59 driving licences and booked 3,818 violations after inspecting more than 44,000 vehicles across the state.
The intensive week-long operation, launched on October 6 under the direction of the Inspector General of Police (Traffic and Road Safety Management), focused on identifying unsafe driving practices, particularly among autorickshaw drivers.
According to police data, 330 road accidents involving autorickshaws were reported in the state between June and August 2025.
Of these, 108 incidents involved pedestrians being struck, while 28 cases occurred due to loss of control by drivers. Officials described the trend as “alarming” and stressed the need for stricter compliance with traffic norms.
During the special drive, enforcement teams zeroed on over-speeding, reckless and negligent driving, and wrong-side travel. Alongside punitive measures, officers also checked licences, vehicle documents, and fitness certificates to ensure that all safety requirements were met.
In an effort to promote safer roads, the department simultaneously rolled out a large-scale awareness campaign targeting autorickshaw drivers. Through 3,322 sessions, more than 15,800 drivers were educated on safe driving habits, speed limits, and passenger safety.
Road safety messages were displayed at auto stands and key public areas, while driver unions and associations were roped in to spread the message of responsible driving.
“Strict monitoring and enforcement will continue in the coming days. Violators will face stern action,” officials said, adding that members of the public can report reckless driving or violations by calling the ‘Shubhayatra’ helpline (9747001099).
The drive was carried out with the coordinated efforts of District Police Chiefs, Traffic Zonal Superintendents, and Enforcement Units under the supervision of the Traffic & Road Safety Management Division.
