JOIN USFatal mishaps rate goes down in city; cops happy
The number of road accidents have come down, especially mishaps involving deaths, as claimed by police commissioner Sunil Agarwal at the inauguration of traffic police stall at Dasara exhibition grounds here on Saturday.
This is evident with the statistics put on display at the stall. From January to September 2011, the city has witnessed 77 fatal mishaps claiming 80 lives as against 136 mishaps and 140 killed in 2010. It is also less when compared to the statistics from 2008 where the fatal mishaps were recorded at 166 and 174 deaths, followed by 2009- 130 mishaps and 138 deaths and 2010-136 mishaps and 140 deaths. However, the cause of worry here is two-wheelers who stand high among the deceased and there are statistics again to substantiate.
The commissioner said on the flip side, the number of violations are increasing and the fine collected on an average of Rs 24 lakh per year is ample proof. The irony here is educated tribe is also among the offenders. It indicates the lack of self-discipline among vehicular users in the nation when compared to other parts of the world.
The commissioner cited the example of Bosnia the small nation that had been ripped apart owing to civil war. “One may die of hunger in that nation, but not due to road accidents, thanks to the traffic engineering and also discipline among the road users”, lauded Agarwal.
Talking about the initiatives taken to create awareness among the masses, the commissioner said repetitive education is the motto and the educational institutions will be invited in groups for the stall.
DCP (crime and traffic) P Rajendra Prasad said that the target group is two-wheelers, as the latter constitutes 80 per cent of five lakh types of vehicles on the city roads.
Three short films- footage of accidents captured in CCTV cameras in Bangalore, ill-effects of drunken driving and using cellphones on roads were screened. DCP (Law and order) Basavaraj Malagathi, mounted police commandant S J Mariba Shetty and CEO of Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA) M V Hemanth Kumar were present.
Peek into youth fads, breach here
When today’s youth find pleasure in drag race, wheelie and also talking on cellphone while riding, police couldn’t have thought of anything better to add to their stall this year.
Among the numerous photographs related to traffic violations exhibited, photographs of youths riding in full throttle are displayed. Recreation of scene of accident with the help of life size dolls, depicts helmetless riding and cellphone claiming lives.
Most interestingly the rider here is holding helmet in his hand, a growing fad among youngsters. Charts of traffic violations and fines imposed, accidents, dimensions of number plates and also vehicles causing mishaps form the other exhibits.