Beware walkers! 92 pedestrians killed in city in road accidents in 2016

Non usage of footpaths on part of citizens is proving to be dangerous for pedestrians who are proving to be sitting ducks for rash drivers. Statistics compiled by city police reveals a gloomy picture for walkers in second capital of State. From about 310 persons killed in road accident in year 2016, 92 fatalities involved pedestrians. Means, lives of 92 persons could have been saved had they been walking on the footpath. Or simply said, persons walking down the road are always prone to accidents as they are directly in the line of fire.

While on police records these fatalities might be attributed to rash and reckless driving, but the fact is these pedestrians were walking on the carriageway. They had no right to be on the road meant for vehicles. That's why footpaths are constructed alongside carriageway to ensure walkers should not stray onto carriageway.

However having said that, one cannot turn a blind eye to reality that pedestrians are literally forced to abandon footpaths. Many of the walk ways are not in symmetry, also they are not evenly laid out where pedestrian can walk with ease. After every few metres the footpath are abruptly broken to provide for space near the entry gates of houses or offices and this is prime reason people straying onto carriageway and ending up as scapegoat for fault of city planners. Along the major roads, the footpaths are simply disappeared owing to skewed design and uneven usage of space. The example of Wardha Road would suffice to showcase how footpath in city are not meant for walkers. From Ajni Square till Jhansi Rani Square, the footpath does not have even line and some places it is simply missing or gobbled-up by influential persons.

Another reason for people not adapting to usage of footpaths is presence of hawkers and all sundry vendors on the pathway meant for walkers. City administration turns a blind eye to this willful misuse of the facility meant for people for reasons best known to them. People too are to be blamed as they have failed to develop habit of sticking to footpath while using the roads.

Civic administration needs to learn a lesson from above statistics and make the footpaths encroachment free so that any citizen can freely walk on them.

As per the statistics of Traffic Control Branch of Nagpur City, total 310 persons were killed in road accidents in year 2016. 

Another alarming trend is that as many as 141 two-wheeler riders were killed in road accidents in year 2016. None of the motorcyclist was wearing the helmet. 

1373 road accidents, 310 killed, 1510 injured

In year 2016, City recorded 1,373 road accidents in which 310 persons were killed and 1,510 injured. Mishaps have registered a sharp increase as three police stations of Nagpur Rural Police were added in Nagpur Police Commissionerate. Minus the statistics of these police stations, the statistics of accidents is -- total accidents -- 1,279, Fatalities-- 278 and Injured -- 1,448. 

As per the Statistics of Traffic Control Branch of Nagpur City, out of 310 road fatalities, 141 (45.48%) were two wheeler riders. This number could have been on lower side had the two-wheeler riders were wearing helmets.

Non-availability of proper footpaths for pedestrians was another reason for increase in road fatalities on city roads as whopping 92 pedestrians (29.67%) were killed road accidents. More than 21 (6.77%) bi-cycle riders were knocked dead in city by rashly driven vehicles. Negligent driving/riding resulted in killing of 14 (4.51%) persons.

Rash Car drivers responsible for 29.86 % accidents

Out of total 1,373 road accidents, car drivers and two wheeler riders are collectively responsible for 58.55 % of cases. However, truckers who are always criticised for rash driving were responsible for 15.80% road accidents during the last year.

According to statistics, car drivers are responsible for 410 (29.86%) road accidents while 394 (28.69) accidents were caused by the two wheeler riders. Truckers caused 217 (15.80%) accidents; Autorikshaws caused 59 (4.29%) road accidents; Private buses caused 27 (1.96%) accidents; MSRTC buses caused 16 (1.16%) accidents and Starbuses caused 11 (0.80%) accidents in city. 

Total vehicle population of Nagpur city is 14,89,411 which includes 12,31,120 (82.65%) two wheelers; 1,66,023 cars and jeeps (11.14%); 15,696 (1.05%) trucks and others. If we compare the statistics of vehicle with percentage of total accidents, it can be noticed that vehicle population of car and jeep is 11.14% however these vehicles were responsible for 29.86% road accidents. Two-wheelers caused 28.69% of road accidents and their population in city is 82.65%. It means that the car and jeep drivers are more negligent.

Maximum accidents during Day time

Density of vehicles on roads is heavier during day time and hence maximum 765 (55.71%) accidents occurred in day hours while 608 (44.28%) held during the night time. In day hours, 157 fatal accidents, 315 serious accidents and 293 minor accidents occurred while 134 fatal accidents, 238 serious accidents and 236 minor accidents were reported in night hours. Of these, 400 (29.13%) accidents were occurred between 9 pm to 7 am, 273 (19.88%) occurred between 1 pm to 5 pm. 

of the 310 road fatalities, 268 (86.45%) were men, while 42 (13.54%) were women. If we compare the age-groups, 109 (35.16%) deceased were above 40 years, 87 (28.06%) were between 18 to 30 year; 86 between 30 to 40 years old and 28 (9.03%) were minors.