Delhi reverses trend on road fatalities

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Contrary to the international trend, Delhi has managed to control the road fatalities during the last two years. According to a World Health Organization report, road fatality is on a constant rise in all developing countries of the world, but casualties in Delhi, which has more vehicles than the combined total of vehicles in the remaining three metro cities, have come down by 25 per cent since 2009. According to Delhi Traffic Police, strict enforcement against drunken driving and heavy commercial vehicles have contributed significantly in reducing road fatalities in the national Capital.

According to the WHO report, road fatality rate in developing countries was 13.3 persons per lakh population in the year 2000 which has been estimated to go up to 19 persons per lakh population by 2020. On the other hand, the fatality rate in developed world during the same period will decline from 11.8 to 7.8. The report says over 75 per cent of the total casualties occur in developing and transition countries. However, the records of Delhi Traffic Police suggest that the fatalities in Delhi declined by nearly 10 per cent in 2010 from 2009 and further by nearly 15 per cent till February this year as compared to the same period last year. This collectively has resulted in decline of nearly 25 per cent in the last two years.

Delhi had recorded 2,325 deaths in 2009 that came down to 2104 in 2010. A comparison of road deaths till February shows that the figure has come down 372 in 2009 to 337 in 2010 and further to 291 in 2011. The traffic police attribute the decline in fatalities to sustained prosecution of commercial vehicles and drunken driving during the recent times. According to Delhi Traffic Police, during the last 10 years only four years - 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 - have recorded less than 2,000 fatalities. The minimum was reported in the year 2002 with only 1,696 deaths. However, the traffic police is hopeful of bringing the number of deaths below 2,000 this year.

"Among all Indian cities, Delhi records the maximum number of deaths on roads. The number of vehicles in Delhi is more than the total number of vehicles in the three metro cities, yet strict prosecution has brought down road fatalities in all segments," said Satyendra Garg, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic). He said special emphasis is being laid to ensure safety on city roads through sustained prosecution against drunken driving and violations by commercial vehicles. "In cooperation with courts, the drunk drivers are sent to jail and their licences are being suspended. This year, 421 driving licences have been suspended and 490 drivers have been awarded jail terms for drunken driving. Strict action was also taken against errant school van drivers who have been found overloading children in vans," Garg added.

The data shows 46 deaths were caused by heavy commercial vehicles till February 2010 which has reduced to 41 this year. Similarly, fatalities caused by tractors this year are only 2 as against 10 deaths last year. However, the fatalities involving DTC buses have increased this year with 16 deaths as compared to 6 last year. There have also been lesser casualties involving private cars this year. The figure rests at 41 as against 54 in 2010. "While the heavy commercial vehicles are being booked and impounded for violation of Supreme Court guidelines, a majority of private cars involved in road fatalities are due to drunken driving which is coming down," the Joint Commissioner maintained. 

Original news source http://www.dailypioneer.com/324954/Delhi-reverses-trend-on-road-fatalities.html