The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Accident deaths rising

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 11, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Accident deaths rising

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

Thiruvananthapuram: Lack of trauma care facilities in hospitals, delay in providing timely first aid to the victims and failure to take severe action for traffic offences are cited as the main reasons for the mounting death in road accidents in the State. As many as 3,589 persons were killed and 49,881 injured in 41,647 road accidents in the State in 2006. In 2005, 3,051 persons were killed and 51,230 injured in 41,678 road accidents. The mounting dea th toll in road accidents has baffled road safety experts and the Government alike.

An analysis of road accident statistics of the State Crime Records Bureau reveals that accidents claimed 538 more lives in 2006 compared to 2005. The number of persons injured has come down from 51,230 in 2005 to 49,881 in 2006. The number of road accidents has also come down marginally.

T. Elangovan, Scientist-G, National Transportation Planning and Research Centre, says first aid and trauma care facilities in hospitals should be activated to bring down the death toll in road accidents.

“Victims of road accidents do not get medical aid during the ‘golden hour’. Awareness of first aid should be created and the local people and NGOs should be roped in to ensure immediate first aid and transportation to the hospital,” he said.

Ernakulam tops the list among the districts, with 6,965 accidents, 450 deaths and 7,481 injuries in 2006. Thiruvananthapuram with 5,483 accidents, 438 deaths and 6,200 injuries is in the second spot. Thrissur district with 4,544 accidents, 367 deaths and 5,237 injuries is third. As many as 3,286 road accidents, 304 deaths and 4,043 injuries have been reported in Kozhikode.

The mounting road accidents and death toll came up for discussion at a meeting of Southern Transport Ministers that concluded here on Saturday. According to Minister for Transport Mathew T. Thomas, recommendations have been made to amend the Motor Vehicles Rules for awarding deterrent punishment for various traffic offences and to increase the fine for drunk driving.

While South Kerala reported more accidents on other roads (PWD, urban and village roads), North Kerala reported more accidents on the State Highways and National Highway stretches passing through these districts. Of these accidents, 26,625 occurred during day time and 15,022 at night. Of the 41,647 accidents that occurred in 2006, it was found that 41,480 were due to the fault of the drivers. Two-wheelers accounted for 44 per cent of the road accidents last year, cars and jeeps 17.7 per cent, autorickshaws 14.6 per cent and buses 10.6 per cent.

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