VISAKHAPATNAM: Despite measures and awareness on the increasing number of road accidents, the ghat roads and rural areas of the district witnessed majority of road accidents. In the last five months, as many as 185 persons died and another 592 persons were injured in various road accidents in Visakhapatnam district this year till now.
According to the statistics of Visakhapatnam district police, from Jan 1 to May 31, 2017, Visakhapatnam district witnessed 397 road accidents, including 174 fatal ones.
On an average around 80 road accidents are reported in a month and two or three per day. On an average, 37 persons die every month in road accidents in Visakhapatnam agency.
According to sources, almost 70 to 80 per cent of road accidents take place in the two zones _ Anakapalle-Payakaraopreta stretch and ghat road in agency areas covering Chintapalle, Paderu and Ananthagiri which are said to be accident-prone.
The Anakapalle-Payakaraopeta stretch has reported a major accident in which 10 persons died. Sources said that majority of accidents occur due to too many road openings in medians and rash driving by lorry drivers.
The review meetings of road safety committee, headed by district collector, had recommended increase in height of medians. However, the proposals remain on paper. Sources said that overloaded vehicles, ferrying commuters to weekly shandies and breakdown of heavy vehicles are the reasons for ghat road mishaps.
Measures taken
The Visakhapatnam district police have identified as many as 22 accident spots and the zones are manned by six highway mobiles patrolling teams. The highway patrolling teams near accident-prone spots ensure that vehicles move slowly from the black spots.
“Awareness meetings at all villages abutting the highway will advise pedestrians to cross cautiously. We are using Speed Gun on NH and cases are being booked against drivers driving at more than 80 kmph on the NH. Drunk and drive cases are registered and accused is remanded for 2-3 days,” said superintendent of police (Visakhapatnam- Rural) Rahul Dev Sharma.
The SP also said that in the case of ghat roads, a number of cases are being booked against overloaded autos and jeeps. “A special drive has been launched to check vehicles at Downuru and V Madugula. Moreover, drunk driving tests are being conducted especially during weekends at Paderu and Araku,” he added.
Special focus on trucks
In their attempt to bring down road accidents caused by over-speeding and drowsiness of lorry drivers, the Visakhapatnam police have come up with a unique idea. A special team of police is posted in Nakkapalle region for the purpose” during nights. The team would stop the vehicles, especially lorries, and make the drivers wash their faces. “Every lorry passing through Nakkapalle toll gate will be stopped. The driver will be made to get down and wash his face to feel fresh and get over drowsiness. This could stop accidents. For this purpose, six police constables are being deployed at the gate,” said the SP.
Daunting figures
From Jan 1 to May 31, 2017
Total no. of accidents -397
Deaths - 185
Injured - 592
As many as 375 persons died and 1,114 injured in various road accidents in Vizag district in 2016
22 accident spots have been identified on the district roads
Special drunk and drive checkings at Araku, Paderu during weekends
Awareness meetings at several villages regarding road accidents