Accident analysis brings down road fatalities on Nagpur's roads

By Dheeraj Fartode,

Total diversion of heavy traffic from inner Ring Road helped reduce accidents, say cops

Worried over high fatalities in road mishaps, Traffic Control Branch of Nagpur City Police has undertaken a comprehensive drive to go to root of accidents and recommend corrective measures. The move has paid of rich dividends as fatal accidents have reduced in one month period post undertaking the new measure, claimed Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic Control Branch, Smratna Patil.

DCP Patil aid that all in-charge of traffic branches were asked to study reasons behind every accident and submit a report along with suggestions on preventive action. Post an accident in the city, concerned police station registers the case as per the established procedure. Thereafter, Police Inspector of concerned Traffic Control Branch visits the spot to analyze the reasons that led to accident. The survey is not limited to error of either driver but field officers are directed to study spot’s topography, in case that is cause of accident, she said. The aim is to prevent recurrence of mishaps at same spot and we want to eliminate the possibilities of fault in road engineering or any other factor. The field office after completing the study submits the findings to the DCP’s office. The report from field office is then forwarded with recommendations to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for further action, as often civil works are needed to rectify faults in roads.  The arrangement has started showing result and primary goal is to bring back order on city roads and ensure precious lives are saved. At many spots, the traffic cops have erected plastic poles to ensure proper division of vehicles to  avoid jumbling.

This laning ensures that vehicle do not come into one another’s spot as most of time smaller vehicles tend to loose balance while overtaking heavier vehicles, leading to fatalities. Apart from loss of lives, many a times an mishap leads to law and order problem which city police wants to avoid, she added further. With increasing population which also leads to addition of vehicles on roads, city is highly gaining reputation to be unsafe for two-wheeler riders as on average 25 persons loose their lives in a month. Taking the issue head-on city police decided to go into causes to avert mishaps by eliminating the causes in road configuration. Though we cannot prevent all mishaps, but atleast if fatality is avoided it would be quite beneficial.

Road fatalities have decreased in city during September as compared to statistics of August. This is despite increase in the numbers of serious accidents during the month. According to statistics, 27 persons died in road accidents in month of August 2016. However, the number dropped by 10 in September as only 17 persons lost their lives. One of the reason for reduction is total diversion of heavy traffic form inner Ring Road which helped in regulating the small vehicle  properly on this 25 km stretch, said DCP Patil. However, serious accidents have recorded an upward trend. In month of August 43 serious accidents were reported and the figure rose to 51 in month of September. Interestingly, number of persons injured in serious accidents is nearly same in both months.

 In August 68 persons were injured in serious accidents and 67 persons injured in September. Minor accidents have also same statistics in both months, 39 minor accidents were reported across the city in August and September.  Hopefully continuous follow-up of investigation of cause of accident and prompt action on part of civic body, like filling-up pot holes, minor alternations, removel of infringements, action against encroachments, proper construction of speed breakers, synchornisation of traffic would yield results in near future, DCP Patil said.