Bengaluru, Oct 8 (DHNS): Overtaking an ambulance, which has the right of way, may soon cost your driving licence as the State government has issued strict orders to the Road Transport Department as well as the police to cancel the driving licence of offenders.

Speaking at the launch of 150 additional 108 Arogya Kavacha ambulances at Vidhana Soudha here, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said: “The heavy traffic on roads makes life difficult for ambulance drivers. Overtaking them adds to their woes. To prevent it, we are contemplating licence cancellation. The transport department and the police have been issued necessary directions,” said Siddaramaiah. He urged motorists to make way for ambulances transporting the sick, on grounds of humanity.

The chief minister said the road regulations mandate that every driver must give free passage to ambulances and fire tenders by drawing to the side of the road. However, people show scant regard to such regulations and violate it with impunity. With the growing numbers of vehicles in the State, it is a challenge for patients to get medical help in time.

‘Health for all’

Drawing a comparison with the previous government, he said his government’s priority was to ensure “Health for all”. He recalled that before the Congress government came to power in the State, there were just 517 ambulances. With the addition of 150ambulances today, their number has been augmented by 368 in all, he noted.

Minister for health and family welfare U T Khader said, “We will replace the ambulances that have covered more than 3 lakh kilometres with new ones in the near future.”

He also said that the State government would look into the demands put forth by 108 ambulance drivers association for hike in wages and regularisation of jobs. Khader said that the overdues of Accredited Social Health Activists would also be cleared soon.

“The honorarium paid to them would be deposited in their bank accounts directly,” he added.