The Hindu : Law & Order: Fewer accidents in March

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 27, 2004

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Law & Order: Fewer accidents in March

By G. Anand

FEWER ACCIDENTS are reported in the State capital city in March compared to other months, according to a study by the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (Natpac).

There is a 15 per cent reduction in the number of accidents in the city in March compared to December, the month when the highest number of accidents are reported in the city, says Dr. Mahesh Chand, project coordinator, Natpac, who conducted the study.

The marked decrease in pedestrian and vehicular traffic during the month could be one of the reasons for the lesser number of accidents. It being the academic year-end, study holidays and examinations keep a large number of students indoors. There is also a drop in the number of vehicles and two-wheelers carrying students to educational institutions. The rush hour traffic is also greatly reduced in March, says Dr. Chand.

Police officials say the study is indicative of the need to stagger school timings in such a way that they do not clash with the morning and evening rush hours. There are 269 educational institutions in the city, with a total strength of over 2.5 lakh students. Teaching and non-teaching staff account for about 12,000 road users. Hence by rough estimates alone, there would be an additional two lakh commuters on the road when educational institutions reopen this June.

The maximum number of accidents are reported in the city during the rush hours between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Significantly, 15 per cent of accident victims belong to the age group between five and 20. Overloading of autorickshaws, taxis and buses with school children is a common traffic safety violation noticed in the city.

Students travelling on footboards of buses and crowding the driver's cabin are common sights during the academic season. The police are hard-pressed to crack down on these violations as it would `upset the routine' of the students.

The police feel that the public transport system would not be stretched too much if school and college timings were staggered so that they would not clash with office and business hours. In 2002, the city police had suggested that the school timings be fixed from 8.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.

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Law & Order: Fewer accidents in March