Karnal registers 21% decline in road deaths

Parveen Arora

Karnal, January 11

The efforts of the different departments of the district to lower fatalities related to road mishaps bore fruits in 2022 as it recorded a 21 per cent decline in deaths pertaining to road accidents.

The number of road accidents was almost the same for both the years. However, a decline in accident-related fatalities was observed in comparison to 2022.

The district witnessed 341 deaths in 785 accidents in 2023. In 2022, however, there were 435 such deaths, indicating a positive trend in the district.

Out of 785 accidents recorded last year, 479 were non-fatal and 306 were fatal. In 2022, out of 765 accidents, 365 were non-fatal and 400 were fatal, according to data by the Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) project.

The district recorded 62 accidents in January 2023, while 74 were observed in February, 51 in March, 58 in April, 77 in May, 83 in June, 65 in July, 55 in August, 51 in September, 87 in October, 52 in November and 70 in December, the data added.

“The district has shown a good trend of reducing the number of deaths in accidents,” said iRAD District Rollout Manager Swati Gupta. Authorities accredited the decline in fatalities to the rectification of 10 accident-prone areas within the district limits on National Highway-44.

“We had identified 10 accident-prone areas based on the number of fatal accidents. The flaws have been rectified by the departments concerned,” SP Shashank Kumar Sawan said.

Among these spots, two were identified between Karneshwar Mandir and sector-6 Chowk, one near the traffic booth in Taraori, one between the Highway police station and Devi Lal Chowk, one near Paawan Dham Aashram, one near Mayur Dhaba, one near Hafed Export Hub, one at the Baldi bypass and two between Uchani and Jhanjhari.

Sawan said speeding, reckless driving, drunk-driving and non-compliance with traffic regulations, including the use of mobile phone while driving, are major contributors to road accidents.

Police personnel conducted awareness camps in schools and colleges and at taxi stands and truck unions to educate residents, especially students, about road safety, traffic rules and first aid, the SP added.

Faults on nh rectified

The authorities have credited the redoing of 10 accident-prone areas within the district limits on National Highway-44 for the decline in road deaths