Hyderabad, December 26: Eight road accidents occur in the city every day, causing injuries to at least seven and resulting in one or two fatalities. Up to December 23, 2,590 road accidents had occurred in the city in which 2,481 persons suffered injuries and 426 lost their lives.
With 27.18 lakh two-wheelers choking the roads in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, they have been found to be involved in most accidents. In fact, two-wheeler riders were guilty in 761 cases, closely followed by four-wheeler drivers, who are listed as accused in 735 offences. While 55 persons lost their lives in the accidents they caused, RTC bus drivers were in the third position for their involvement in 284 offences.
Two-wheeler riders also constituted majority of victims (1,159) which is roughly 44% of the total number. This year, 972 pedestrians (38%) died in road accidents.
Reeling out statistics at a media briefing here on Sunday, additional commissioner of police C V Anand said crossing the road in Hyderabad was a nightmare for pedestrians. "We have posted constables at a few busy road crossings like Greenlands to help pedestrians, but it is dangerous even for police personnel. Without security personnel stopping the traffic, it is even difficult for me to cross the busy roads," the additional CP admitted.
As part of the pedestrian-friendly policing initiative, police have proposed measures like 'all red' signals at important road junctions and development of a two-feet wide barricaded pathway with openings only at road crossings on a suitable road stretch by next year.
According to the top traffic cop, the special drive against drunken drivers would be intensified in the near future as they would be getting 30 more breathalysers soon. "With increase in the gadgets, more teams will be deployed to enforce the special drive against drunken driving," Anand said. In the 16 days drive since November 4 when the special drive was conducted, traffic police have booked 1,356 offenders for drunken drivers. Through various challans, traffic police have collected Rs 33 crore revenue this year.
Two more traffic police stations__ Narayanguda and Bahadurpura__would start functioning in the coming year. The additional CP said that road dividers would come up on all the flyovers in the New Year.
Trimulgherry traffic inspector Pitchaiah, Kachaguda inspector Ramalinga Raju and ACP (Central Zone) Bala Krishna have been given Rs 1000 cash reward for best performance in 2011.
--Agencies--