Bhubaneswar, Dec 21: With the Indian Meteorological Department warning of dense fog across several districts of Odisha, the state Commerce and Transport Department has released a comprehensive set of safety guidelines aimed at minimising road accidents and ensuring safer travel.

The Commerce and Transport Department has directed Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) in six Odisha districts—Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, and Sambalpur—to enforce accident prevention measures amid forecasts of dense fog conditions.

The initiative was undertaken on the instructions of Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, with Principal Secretary Usha Padhee overseeing the drive to strengthen awareness and enforcement measures.

A virtual meeting was held with Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) to ensure preparedness.

The advisory urges drivers to adopt safe practices such as driving slowly according to visibility, using low-beam headlights, maintaining safe distance, and keeping parking and tail lights on. Motorists are advised to avoid high beams, overtaking in fog, sudden braking, and driving under the influence of alcohol or fatigue.

Commercial vehicles have been instructed to ensure proper functioning of headlights, brake lights, and reflectors, avoid unnecessary early morning travel, and deploy experienced drivers. The guidelines stress that travel during dense fog should be avoided unless essential.

Senior officials of the State Transport Authority, Deputy Transport Commissioners, and RTOs participated in a virtual meeting to discuss strict enforcement of these measures.