‘Blind spot’ crashes cause 28% of road fatalities: KP
Times of India | 10 May 2025
12 Kolkata: Around 33% of fatal accidents — 18 till April 30 — this year involved buses, up from 31% in the past two years. Of these, the victims fell in the blind spot of the bus driver in 23% of the cases.There have been four blind-spot fatal accidents so far this year. Almost 28% of all road fatalities, especially of pedestrians and two-wheelers, are victims of blind spots, stated Lalbazar, adding blind spot-related accidents involving trucks are also common. Total fatal deaths until April 30 this year have seen a significant drop to 55, down from 66 recorded last year during the same time. Under these circumstances, police commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma on Friday launched a drive at the BBD Bag bus old minibus stand area to install anti-blind spot mirrors on buses.Designed with help from field experts, these mirrors are aimed at providing a larger — and closer — area view through the looking glass, similar to the experience of WBTC low-floor buses. On Friday, 30 buses were fitted with the glasses, with another 270 buses to be fitted with the same glasses next month."There was a rise in fatal accidents – that too by a small margin – last year after we added Bhangar to our jurisdiction. But this year, that has gone down if you compare April figures with that of last year. This is because we are always evaluating the reason for an accident. We are in talks with the stakeholders — the two-wheeler riders, driver and bus associations. We are confident that steps and innovations will help in bringing down accidents even further," said Verma."Such looking glasses will be distributed through 26 traffic guards across the city. On Friday, a demonstration of the installation process of such glasses in buses was given," said DC (Traffic) Shrikant J Yeliwad."Minor accidents involving buses occurred in the past year mostly due to three primary reasons. One, passengers trying to get off moving buses or trying to cross right in front of the bus. Two, two-wheelers overtaking from the left and then suddenly coming in front of the bus. Three, sudden efforts of illegal crossovers by pedestrians, mostly from the left. In all three cases, blind spot mirrors will help in reducing such types of accidents," explained an officer from the Fatal Squad of Traffic Police.Lalbazar has also asked all traffic guards to hold special awareness drives for two-wheeler riders and pedestrians regarding blind spots. Kolkata: Around 33% of fatal accidents — 18 till April 30 — this year involved buses, up from 31% in the past two years. Of these, the victims fell in the blind spot of the bus driver in 23% of the cases. There have been four blind-spot fatal accidents so far this year. Almost 28% of all road fatalities, especially of pedestrians and two-wheelers, are victims of blind spots, stated Lalbazar, adding blind spot-related accidents involving trucks are also common. Total fatal deaths until April 30 this year have seen a significant drop to 55, down from 66 recorded last year during the same time. Under these circumstances, police commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma on Friday launched a drive at the BBD Bag bus old minibus stand area to install anti-blind spot mirrors on buses.Designed with help from field experts, these mirrors are aimed at providing a larger — and closer — area view through the looking glass, similar to the experience of WBTC low-floor buses. On Friday, 30 buses were fitted with the glasses, with another 270 buses to be fitted with the same glasses next month."There was a rise in fatal accidents – that too by a small margin – last year after we added Bhangar to our jurisdiction. But this year, that has gone down if you compare April figures with that of last year. This is because we are always evaluating the reason for an accident. We are in talks with the stakeholders — the two-wheeler riders, driver and bus associations. We are confident that steps and innovations will help in bringing down accidents even further," said Verma."Such looking glasses will be distributed through 26 traffic guards across the city. On Friday, a demonstration of the installation process of such glasses in buses was given," said DC (Traffic) Shrikant J Yeliwad."Minor accidents involving buses occurred in the past year mostly due to three primary reasons. One, passengers trying to get off moving buses or trying to cross right in front of the bus. Two, two-wheelers overtaking from the left and then suddenly coming in front of the bus. Three, sudden efforts of illegal crossovers by pedestrians, mostly from the left. In all three cases, blind spot mirrors will help in reducing such types of accidents," explained an officer from the Fatal Squad of Traffic Police.Lalbazar has also asked all traffic guards to hold special awareness drives for two-wheeler riders and pedestrians regarding blind spots.