Did you know that 752 persons died in road accidents during 2011 in Krishna district, and 3,431 persons suffered injuries in road accidents? These figures may bring shivers to any person. But, this is a fact and many of the injured are languishing on beds after losing their limbs.
According to the Road Transport Authority (RTA) and the Police officials, about 2,959 road accidents occurred in the district including 1,449 mishaps in Vijayawada. As many as 452 persons died in the district, while 300 people lost their lives in the city last year. The accidents figure was put at 2,814 during 2010, and the death toll was 768. About 2,598 persons were injured in the road mishaps.
Violations
Police said most of the accidents are occurring due to drunken and cell phone driving, over-speeding or over-loading, poor condition of vehicles, jumping traffic signals, overtaking and rash and negligent driving. In many cases, the accused were youth and students. The police booked nearly 1,57,642 cases on traffic violators and collected Rs.2.5 crore penalties during 2010, and in 2011 they registered 3,27,169 cases and imposed Rs.3.99 crore fine.
Traffic ACP CH. Devananda Santho and other traffic police organised counselling for 120 persons booked on various charges on February 12. The ACP appealed to the youth to follow traffic rules and not to spoil their lives by causing or meeting with road accidents.
Mr. Santho said most of the traffic violators are college going students. “We request parents not to provide bikes, particularly power and sports bikes, for their wards which are causing accidents.”
Traffic CI K. Venkateswara Rao said police conducted a special drive in the city and seized 120 vehicles for violations. The police urged parents and college managements to enlighten students on traffic rules to prevent accidents. “We caught many students for driving vehicles without license and necessary documents. The police entered the names of the traffic violators in the data. If the same person is booked the police will take severe action against them,” said another Traffic CI A.. Shivaji Raju.
