No let down in traffic accidents

ALLAHABAD: Even as traffic police authorities are observing ‘Traffic Month’, there seems to be no let down in cases of road mishaps-- both fatal and non-fatal. In the past ten months, around 700 cases of road mishaps in terms of fatal and non-fatal category were reported while the graph of year 2014 stood at 1101. A total of 450 persons were killed in road accidents last year while over 270 deaths on streets were recorded in the region in the past 10 months.
Senior cops, however, have taken initiatives to minimise cases of road accidents in both fatal and non- fatal categories after implementing road safety norms in a strict manner.
Traffic police records state that the Sangam city, after recording the highest 1,101 cases of road mishaps had gained notoriety for recording the second highest road mishap deaths in the state. Following that, district traffic police authorities launched a campaign to identify black spots and finally enlisted a total of 98 such spots, popularly known as accident prone areas.
Ironically, neighbouring districts of Kaushambi, Pratapgarh and Fatehpur account only for 22, 26 and 28 such spots respectively.
Out of the 98 black spots, 71 are located within the city limits while Trans-Ganga and Trans-Yamuna areas account for 16 and 11 accident prone areas respectively. The records claim that 11 black spots each were located in Colonelganj police station circle and Naini (Trans-Yamuna), while 10 each were located in Cantt (city) and Soraon (Trans-Ganga) police stations.
Black spots in other police stations of the district include Kotwali (3), Shahganj (2), Khuldabad (1), Kareli (2) , Civil Lines (9), Dhoomanganj (6), Kydganj (7), Mutthiganj (3), Shivkuti (7), Attarsuiya (1), George Town (6), Daraganj (3) and Jhunsi (10).
While a series of events are being organised on the occasion of the traffic month but rising number of road accidents has left the authorities stunned. Officials on Sunday claimed to have drafted a database of road accidents and have taken preventive measures at `accident prone areas' in the city and the connecting highways.
KS Emmanuel, SSP, Allahabad, emphasised on spreading awareness on road safety norms claiming that awareness is the key to check the rising graph of road mishaps.
Under the fresh strategy, traffic cops are interacting with commuters during peak hours to improve traffic situation, resolve complaints and seek suggestions related to traffic conditions and road safety through social networking sites and whatsapp number.
"Negligence on the part of drivers is the major reason behind majority of road accidents", said a senior cop, adding that adhering to traffic norms is the only solution to check road mishaps.
In city areas, majority of cases of rash driving, high speed, ignoring traffic signals and not following traffic rules have been reported, and over 10,000 commuters were challaned during the past 10 months.