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68 fatalities on city roads last year

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

Traffic police say various measures have brought down the accident rate

Thiruvanananthapuram: As many as 68 deaths in road accidents have been reported in the North and South sub-divisions of the city traffic police in the first six months of the year.

Of the casualties, 32 took place in the North sub-division and the rest in the South. A comparative statement of the accident cases shows that 19 of the 68 deaths took place due to "motor occurrence" (where only one vehicle is involved). The 19 deaths were mainly due to skidding, drunken driving and caused by those who did not have valid driving licence.

As many as 33 persons were booked for traffic obstruction, 36 for dangerous driving and 440 for drunken driving in the two sub-division limits between January 1 and June 26.

In the case of 338 IPC (causing grievous injury, 745 persons had been booked and 156 for causing minor injury (337 IPC). The number of suo mottu cases registered by the traffic police during this period for traffic obstruction, dangerous driving and drunken driving is 509.

A senior traffic police official told The Hindu that the rate of road accidents had come down due to a series of steps initiated by the police. "It is estimated that eight lakh vehicles are plying in the city where a lot of road development works are on. The traffic wing with its limited manpower is finding it difficult to regulate traffic during peak hours." The decision of the traffic police to book drivers of the KSRTC, tipper lorries and other heavy vehicles involved in fatal accidents under IPC 304 and 308 had been effective in reducing accidents. IPC 304, is culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and IPC 308, culpable attempt to homicide not amounting to murder, are non-bailable. "The drivers of these vehicles are now very careful as they are charged under IPC 304 and IPC 308, the official said.

Amending the Motor Vehicle Act, more deterrent punishment to those causing fatal accidents and making drunken driving a non-bailable offence will further bring down the accident rate in the capital, the official said.

As many as 121 persons were killed in road accidents in the two sub-divisions last year.

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