Dist sees a road mishap death a day this year

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 19

As per figures provided in the monthly meeting of road safety committee, under the ‘Tandrust Punjab Mission’, as many as 251 persons have lost their lives in road accidents in the district till September 2019. That’s close to one death a day. In 2018, around 400 persons were killed in traffic accidents in the district. 

According to figures, around 1021 persons died in road accidents from 2016 to 2018. The officials informed that Patiala was among one of the top districts in the state in road related deaths.

The officials further informed that after analysing the road accidents deaths, over the last three years, 55 black spots have been identified across the district, including 13 in the city itself. 

According to the officials, Tripuri area in the city was most vulnerable, wherein, maximum number of deaths occurred.

In fact, the Patiala police have, already, identified accident-prone areas in the district. Sirhind-Patiala road has been found as the most dangerous area for road accidents in the district followed by Rajpura-Patiala-lights on the Patiala-Chandigarh highway.

In the city, the cross-section outside the bus stand is a high-risk zone along with Khand Chowk and Thikerwala Chowk near Rajindra Hospital. Moreover, Truck Union area and Kasiana Village road have also been adjudged accidents prone area.

Speeding emerged as the major reason of road accidents in the district. Traffic officials informed that speeding was a key factor in road accidents in the district followed by drunken driving. The other factors which led to road accident fatalities were rash driving, technical snags in the vehicles and unrecognised roads or cuts. In fact, deaths due to stray animals are also among main reasons for road fatalities.

Swinderjeet Brar, Road Safety Engineer, Patiala, said, “The Deputy Commissioner has already formed a committee to take the measures to reduce from road accidents. The committee, which includes members from the MC, PWD and the police will be soon conducting road safety audits.”

Speeding emerges as biggest killer

Around 1,021 persons were killed in road accidents from 2016 to 2018. The officials said Patiala was among one of the top districts in the state in road-related deaths

Speeding emerged as the major reason behind road accidents in the district followed by drunken driving. Other factors which led to fatalities were rash driving and technical snag in vehicles. Deaths due to stray animals are also among main reasons for road mishaps