A 24-hour highway patrol squad equipped for accident response, vehicle breakdown assistance and roadside safety has begun operations on the national highway stretch between Kumbalam and Karukuty in Ernakulam district, according to Mathrubhumi. The squad is functioning under the supervision of the Ernakulam Deputy Transport Commissioner.
Officials from the Motor Vehicles Department will patrol the route in three shifts. Motor Vehicle Inspectors and Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspectors from Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki districts are part of the team. The patrol is intended to reduce accidents on the highway and provide support during night-time emergencies, when stranded vehicles and crash sites can pose additional risks to road users.
The patrol vehicle has been equipped to support officials during roadside interventions. The equipment includes collar blinker lights attached to personnel clothing, LED blinker cones, warning triangles, high-power torches and a portable LED floodlight. The vehicle also carries barricade tape, baton lights, a first-aid box, a fire extinguisher and a tool kit.
The squad can provide limited roadside assistance for common vehicle problems. A jump starter is available for vehicles with discharged batteries, while an inflator can be used when a vehicle has a flat or under-inflated tyre. The equipment is intended to help officers secure the area and assist motorists while responding to incidents.
The department said the squad’s responsibilities extend beyond checking vehicle documents and enforcing transport rules. Its duties include responding quickly to night-time accidents, helping vehicles that have broken down on the roadside and supporting members of the public during emergencies. The team will also identify locations where accidents occur repeatedly, with such black spots receiving priority attention.
Safety measures at risk-prone locations will be coordinated with the road safety division, the Public Works Department, the National Highways Authority of India and the police, according to the report. The coordination is expected to support responses that require traffic control, engineering intervention or police assistance.
The patrol vehicle and its equipment are being kept at the parking ground of SCMS College. Officers taking charge of each shift must record the handover of the vehicle and equipment in a register. This system is intended to maintain operational continuity across the three shifts and ensure that the patrol unit remains available around the clock.
The Motor Vehicles Department’s stated objective is to provide continuous coverage on a highway where accidents, breakdowns and roadside hazards can occur at any time. The next operational focus will be the identification of accident-prone locations and coordination with the relevant road and enforcement agencies for safety measures.
