JOIN USRoad traffic accidents continue to spiral in the district despite incessant efforts by the police.
Rash and negligent driving, flagrant violation of traffic rules, driving without licence have been continuing unabated. Statistics speak for themselves.
Loud and clear
In the last three years, as many as 532 people have lost lives and 2,006 have sustained injuries 2,138 accidents. In 2008, as many as 188 people were killed and 570 sustained injuries in 798 accidents.
As many as 719 accidents claimed 163 lives and injured 519 in 2009. As many as 181 people were killed, 917 injured in 621 accidents during 2010.
Danger zone
Majority of the accidents are ocurring on Kolar-Mulbagal stretch of the National Highway. Concomitantly, there has been a significant increase in the gambling cases in the district.
As many as 247 people were arrested in 38 cases during 2009 while 273 were arrested in 47 cases in 2010. Stake money of Rs 1.8 lakh in first two years and Rs 59,000 in the third year have been seized.
Violators increase
The number of traffic violations too have gone up during the period.
Forty cases and drink and drive, 1,020 cases of rash and negligent driving, 115 cases of overspeeding, 2,641 cases of parking law violation and 5,620 cases of driving without licence have been registered during the said period.
The district has neither lagged behind in crimes. Dacoity, theft, burglary have shown no signs of abating. In 2008, 306 cases of theft were reported and suspects were arrested in 125 cases.
Of the stolen articles worth Rs 1.45 crore, booty worth Rs 49.95 lakh has been recovered.
During 2010, booth worth Rs 2.90 crore has been recovered.
‘Cooperation needed’
Speaking to reporters at his office, superintendent of police Dr K Tyagarajan said appropriate steps to check accidents could be taken if the city municipality cooperated to widen the roads and clear the encroachments. He said Traffic police have planned to introduce one-way traffic at several roads.
Attributing increasing accidents to poor work by Lanco, the private entity carrying high way work, the SP said indicators have not been installed at curves and diversions. He said the firm has been asked install indicators.
Shortage
The SP said the police department has shortage of staff and staff quarters and repeated requests to superiors are yet elicit a positive response.
Referring to atoricities on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Dr Tyagarajan said the Social Welfare officer has been asked to furnish a list of Dalit leaders to convey their meeting to discuss the issue.
Additional SP H R Bhagawandas was present.