Friday, December 29, 2017

Road fatalities highest in Pune & Mumbai: State CID

29/12/2017

PUNE: Pune and Mumbai saw maximum number of road accident deaths in the state in 2016, like 2015. A total of 533 people died in road accidents in Pune in 2016. In Mumbai, 44 more people were killed in the same year. The Maharashtra state CID report 2016 revealed it.

The scenario was no different in 2015. As many as 543 people lost their lives in road accidents in that year, 68 less than in Mumbai in the same year. Overall, Maharashtra has witnessed a 13.6% drop in number of accident cases in 2016, especially on state and national highways, but the number of deaths increased by 3% between 2013 and 2016.

In 2016, there were 37,886 accidents which claimed 13,682 lives. In 2015, there were 42,250 mishaps and 13,685 deaths; in 2014, there were 44,382 accidents and 13,529 fatalities and in 2013, there were 43,863 accidents and 13,245 deaths. The drop can be attributed to the preventive measures and a change in road engineering/design at 96 "black spots", said an official from transport commissioner's office.

In the state, Aurangabad recorded the highest number of accidents (2,470) in 2016, followed by Mumbai (2,405), Palghar (1,763), Nagpur (1,574), Pune (1,319), Thane (1,183) and Navi Mumbai (784). Additional director-general of police (prisons) B. K. Upadhyaya, who was former joint commissioner of police (Mumbai traffic), said, "In foreign countries, both pedestrians and motorists follow the traffic system and guidelines. In India, such a system is not up to the mark."

Road safety was given priority in Maharashtra, said state transport minister Diwakar Raote. He added that awareness camps will be held in schools and colleges to sensitise students on road discipline and traffic rules. The state has formed a group of officials from various departments, including transport, traffic police, highway police, health, public works department, MSRDC and NHAI, to halve the number of accidents by 2020, sources said. The transport department will carry out another 'road safety fortnight' in January, said a deputy RTO official.

"A robust electronic enforcement system, including speed cameras, CCTV cameras and speed guns, and penalty in the form of hefty fines and suspension of licence act act as deterrent and help reduce number of accidents," said K T Golani, vice-president of NGO Welfare Organization for Road Safety and Prevention of Accidents.

On an average, two persons were killed in accidents on Mumbai roads every day. This shocking data was revealed by the Maharashtra state CID report 2016. But there is some good news - there has been a 20.5% drop in the number of accidents in the state capital and 16.1% fall in number of fatalities between 2013 and 2016.

In 2016, 2,405 accidents were reported in the city that claimed 577 lives. In 2015, there were 2,551 accidents and 611 deaths; in 2014, there were 2,219 mishaps and 667 deaths; and in 2013, there were 3,026 accidents and 688 fatalities.


Drunken driving, rash and dangerous driving and speeding are among the leading causes of accidents, said traffic officials. Most victims were in the age group of 15-49, said the report. There was also a drastic dip in accident cases in Navi Mumbai - from 2,223 in 2015 to 784 in 2016.

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