A letter to the editor of The Kathmandu Post Published Oct 29 ********************* Why high-level commission ? - Your editorial on "Road accidents" (October 26) highlights many causes of such accidents and drives home the fact that most of them are preventable, if a sense of responsibility is demonstrated by all drivers, officials and contractors concerned with the construction and maintenance of road and above all, the pedestrians and the community at large. The problem of drunken drivers is a menace and deserves serious attention with imposition of severe penalty on reckless drivers irrespective of whether they are commoners or the privileged. You have identified many measures that can be implemented and that can reduce accidents considerably. Nevertheless, you seem to mention the maintenance aspect just in passing. Vehicles with bald tires and uneven, at times incorrect air pressure, can cause fatal skid in wet or slippery bends. With the worn-out brake system in old rattling engine, many a time, the overloaded vehicle is seen speeding up on the highway to overtake, belching thick clouds of smoke containing atmospheric pollutants. It will not be surprising if such vehicles end up in fatal accidents. It is certain that the existing traffic rules and regulations, if implemented strictly and honestly, without fear or favor, would prevent many fatal accidents. In this connection, a recent report mentioned about setting up of a high-level commission. I wonder why? If it is to ensure prevention of vehicular accidents, why is there delay in strict implementation of the existing provisions without losing any time? If on monitoring, there are stringent issues, which cannot be addressed, there will be justification in setting up a task force, committee or even commission. Otherwise, it may send a wrong message to civic society in that it may be a tactic to make political appointments of the chairperson and members, provide them with maximum perks on government expenses and submit report after many grace periods. Dr Badri Raj Pande via e-mail *****************