Maharashtra ranked second among states in terms of road accident deaths with 14,608 cases last year, behind Uttar Pradesh (23,285), according to NCRB data. But in some silver linings, both Maharashtra and Mumbai witnessed a decline in accidents in 2019 compared to the previous year, according to NCRB data. While Mumbai ranked 32nd among cities with 588 road crashes in 2019 against 691 in 2018, Maharashtra was placed sixth among states with an 8.3% drop—27,286 cases in 2019 compared to 29,740 in 2018.
Maharashtra stood fifth in overall road crash injuries (22,251); Tamil Nadu topped the list with 67,137 cases.
The report said India saw 1.3% rise in overall accident deaths to 1,54,732 cases in 2019 from 1,52,780 in 2018. Nearly 65% of the accident victims in 2019 were in the 18-45 age bracket and 2.6% below 14 years, it added.
In 2019, Mumbai witnessed 483 accident deaths, 3.3% of the total deaths in the state. The city also witnessed 11 vulnerable road-user—eight pedestrians and three cyclists) and 189 two-wheeler deaths. The leading causes of accidents in Mumbai, a traffic official said, are dangerous driving, overtaking and speeding. Another major concern is driving drunk, he added.
Attributing the fall in number of road mishaps in the city to concerted efforts by various agencies in dealing with dangerous roads, Piyush Tewari, CEO and founder of SaveLIFE Foundation, said: “The agencies have fixed bad roads, treated ‘black’ spots and installed electronic enforcement. Also education campaigns and awareness on road safety measures have shown positive results.”
Joint commissioner of police (traffic) Madhukar Pandey credited the fall in accident numbers to aggressive bandobast, action against drunk-driving and other traffic violations, and safe driving awareness campaigns in colleges and on social media.
IPS officer-turned-lawyer YP Singh lauded the Mumbai police’s drive against drunken driving, but said the plan to install CCTV cameras across junctions should be completed soon. A V Shenoy of Mumbai Mobility Forum demanded that the amended Motor Vehicles Act be implemented strictly with heavy fines. “The driving licence process should be made more stringent.”
Source: Times of India
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