Accident deaths rise on city roads after six years
Times of India | 13 December 2024
12 Kolkata: For the first time since 2017, deaths from accidents has increased in 2024 after six years of downward slide. Till now, 165 people have died in road accidents this year, up from 159 reported in 2023. With 18 days still left to the year, the death count could rise further.
However, the increased fatality count must also be viewed in the light of the larger area under Kolkata Police jurisdiction following the addition of Bhangar and the accident-prone Basanti Highway. "With a much larger area to look after, an addition of 300 square km, this rise was inevitable. The fatality count remains almost the same in the main city limits," said a senior officer.
"What is worrying are the deaths and injuries of bikers and pedestrians. Several of these are accidents that occurred when people tried to disembark from the bus. Next year, our focus will be on two-wheeler riders and bus passengers," said an officer.
Accidents during non-peak hours have matched those in peak hours. "But given that average speed is higher in non-peak hours, fatalities tend to be more in this period," added the officer.
Lalbazar stated that there are multiple activities that each guard with a higher number of fatalities has been asked to undertake. "Any civic issues like street lighting not functioning or construction material lying on the road gets reported by us. But SOS is sent whenever such things are noticed on accident-prone stretches," said an officer.
Cops said help from experts is also being taken for long-term gains. Some of the key intersections, for example, can be made safer for motorists and pedestrians if police carefully study five aspects — basic geometry of the intersection, signage, signalling system, pedestrian crossover facility, and location of bus stop — experts on traffic management from IIT Kharagpur have told Kolkata Police.
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