Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 27
As per statistics, India accounts for 10 percent of the world’s road-related fatalities. While this statistical account dates to 2011-12 data, the latest figures point to a further increase in the numbers.
Data compiled by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways state that India recorded 5.01 lakh road accidents in 2005, an increase from 4.89 lakh in 2014. The number of road fatalities increased to 1.46 lakh in 2015 from 1.39 lakh in 2014. It translates into around 400 people dying every day as a result of road accidents or roughly 1 death every 4 minutes.
“This calls for an urgent, almost an emergency like situation, to address this epidemic – ‘road accident,” said Nagaland state Transport Commissioner, Elias T. Lotha delivering the keynote address at a road safety awareness programme in Dimapur by the Motor vehicles Department on June 27. An initiative of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways in association with the Association of State Road Transport Undertakings, the day’s programme was a continuation of the yearlong road safety campaign launched in December 2016 at Kohima.
Stating that the rate of road accidents is also on the rise in Nagaland, Lotha termed road safety as an urgent issue “that cuts across every sector” requiring passion, dedication and a sustained collaborative effort stretching beyond the present.
He said that while most accidents are traced to human error, “we the civilians” do not bother to follow established traffic rules. On the other hand, he added that the community can directly or indirectly engage in road safety campaign by ensuring that roads are strictly built adhering to safety standard.
Commissioner of Police, Limasunep Jamir, speaking on ‘Impact and Prevention’ said that road fatalities account for more deaths than the crimes that enter the police registry.
Citing NCRB figures of road accidents, he said that along with the loss of lives also comes a significant impact on the economy. Road accidents are said to account for a 3 percent loss to the GDP.
In Dimapur’s case, he said that the city is witnessing increasing incidence of vehicular accidents. Of the 27 road-related cases registered in 2015, he revealed that 14 were fatal. It increased to 49 accidents and 25 fatalities in 2016. In 2017 (upto June), the city has already recorded 22 road accidents and 20 death already. “And this we are talking about those reported to the police,” he added.
Rapid increase in population together with increase in the number of vehicles, length of road against the growth of vehicles, pressure from ‘satellite townships’, absence of footpath amenities, human error and importantly, a glaring lack of civic consciousness were attributed as some of the contributing factors.
This however can be reversed with a constructive and coordinated approach, he added. While referring to the 4Es (Education, Enforcement, Engineering and Emergency care) of road safety as recommended by the MoRTH, he added that strict legal enforcement and personal awareness can go a long way in preventing road fatalities. Stating that Traffic offences, including drunk driving should not be taken lightly, he added that accident ‘blackspots’ or accident prone sections should be addressed with urgency.
Limasenla Longkumer, Legal Aid Counsel & Trainer, Nagaland State Legal Services Authority called for an understanding of the fundamentals of road etiquette and the rules. While expounding the rules, Longkumer called upon the enforcement personnel for strict implementation irrespective of the status of the person on the wheel. Citing real life happenings, she pointed out the instances of vehicles with additional high beam lights taking the roads with impunity. Besides enforcing the rules she said that putting to good use the CCTVs installed at important intersections, which reportedly are not functional, more flyovers, street lights, sustained awareness campaigns, and drivers obeying the rules are some of the things that would aid road safety.
Highlighting the salient features of the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016, she said that the amendment includes higher penalty for drunk driving and also the ‘Good Samaritan guidelines, which seeks to encourage on spot accidents witnesses to aid victims.
“We have learned to keep our house and compounds clean but beyond we have not,” observed SI Jaimr, Advisor, Urban Development, in his address as the chief guest. Stating it is high time “we take conscious decision and act” he called for change in civic mentality if the roads are to be improved and safety ensured. “As a leader I also feel uncomfortable” seeing the condition of roads, he admitted. He however also wondered as to “Where the money allotted for road development has gone?”
