Road accidents claimed 6,440 lives in HP since 2009

DHARAMSHALA: Responding to the issue of rising road accidents in the state raised by opposition in the assembly, the government on Wednesday stated that about 6,440 people have lost their lives in accidents since 2009 till October 31, 2014, while 31,457 people were injured during this period.
MLA and former transport minister Mahinder Singh said that there were more than nine lakh vehicles in Himachal Pradesh and government should put a tab on the use of mobile phones while driving and overloading of vehicles in the state.
He said that technology has improved now and many drivers are using fake licenses, making colored copies of a genuine one. There are many cases in which government has not provided any accident relief to victims, which should also be considered, he added.
In his reply, transport minister G S Bali told the house that about 1.50 lakh die in accidents in the country, while in Himachal this is 1,100 people per year. Maxi cabs and pik-up vans are causing 32% accidents, buses 11%, trucks 11%, 4-wheelers 20%, cars 25% and others 1%, he said.
There were many drawbacks in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, in which the age of vehicles has not been fixed, while there are no provisions to limit the number of vehicles in any particular area, he said. The minister also informed the house that special orders have been issued to drivers of private and government vehicles that they should wear badges while on job.