Navi Mumbai: The number of road accidents in the Navi Mumbai traffic division went down significantly in 2016, after reaching an alarming number in the previous two years.
As per the traffic department’s records, 597 accidents were registered in the Navi Mumbai division between January and December 2016. Of these, 253 accidents were on Sion-Panvel Highway, while 284 cases were on Thane-Belapur Road and 60 on Palm Beach Road.
In 2014, the traffic department had registered 750 accident cases, of which 404 were on Sion-Panvel Highway, 305 on the Thane-Belpaur Road and 41 along Palm Beach Road.
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As many as 705 cases were registered in 2015. Sion-Panvel Highway recorded 343 cases, Thane-Belapur Road recorded 316 cases, while 47 cases were reported on Palm Beach Road.
“We have been constantly penalising errant motorists. We also conduct special drives to check drunk drivers, bikers riding without helmet, and speeding. All this has helped us reduce the accident rate,” Nitin Pawar, Depyty Commissioner of Police (traffic), Navi Mumbai, said.
Mr. Pawar further said they were also conducting regular awareness drives to ensure that the number dips further.
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“Our main aim is to educate motorists. Unless there is public awareness and there is self-realisation of consequences of motor rules not being followed, accidents will keep getting reported,” the police officer said.