Bus accident: Following the bus accident at Hiriyur in the Chitradurga district that claimed seven lives and left over twenty others barely escape, the Karnataka government has chosen to write to the Center to request stronger regulations on the movement of vehicles at night.

The declaration was delivered on Saturday in Bengaluru by State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy.

Minister Reddy said that in order to minimize accidents brought on by fatigued drivers, he would write to the Central government requesting more stringent regulations on the movement of automobiles at night.

According to Ramalinga Reddy, there has been a discernible rise in nighttime traffic accidents in recent years.

He emphasized that drivers who travel at night should take pauses during lengthy trips and obtain enough sleep in advance.

The Transport Minister said that in order to solve the issue, he will push the Center to create new regulations requiring drivers on National Highways to take mandatory breaks between midnight and four in the morning.

According to the proposed regulations, drivers of buses, trucks, and lorries would have to stop their vehicles and rest for a minimum of four hours before continuing on their way, he added.

He said that truck and lorry drivers are often alone, which raises the possibility of accidents involving exhaustion, while buses typically have two drivers who split driving responsibilities.

He noted that while creating safety standards, the Center has to take this into account.

Ramalinga Reddy also highlighted the accident-prone area close to Hiriyur where the most recent bus tragedy happened, pointing out that other accidents had already been recorded there.

He called on the central government to investigate the problem and implement the required fixes to immediately increase road safety.

On National Highway 48 next to Gorlattu Cross, the tragedy happened early Thursday when a container truck lost control, crossed the barrier, and struck the bus. The collision caused the bus’s gasoline tank to burst, starting a fire.

The fire claimed the lives of six people and injured twenty-one more. After being flung off the bus along with his helper, Mohammad Rafeeq, 42, of Shiggaon in the Haveri district, was taken to KIMS Hospital in Hubballi. He passed away early on Friday morning after surgery.