According to the office, death rate over the past year has declined by 15.6 percent and cases of serious injuries during the period were down 39.5 percent.[break]
Though the campaign against drunk driving has reduced the number of deaths and serious injuries, the result is not satisfactory at all,” said DSP Pawan Giri, spokesperson of Metropolitan Traffic Police Office, referring to rise in the number of road accidents in 2011/12.
A total of 5,096 accidents were recorded in 2011/12, compared to 4,914 in 2010/11, 4,104 in 2009/10, 2,765 in 2008/09, 2,211 in 2007/08 and 2,097 in 2006/07, respectively.
Giri attributed the rise in the number of road accidents to absence of road safety measures. “We could have prevented many accidents and saved many lives, had we been able to set up minimum level of road safety measures,” he added.
According to Giri, 60 percent of road accidents during 2011/12 were related to motorbikes, 20 percent to private vehicles, and 10 percent to public vehicles. Remaining 10 percent were other types of accidents.
Giri said traffic police alone cannot prevent road accidents unless other related bodies are ready to work in tandem with it. “The basics like zebra crossings, traffic lights, road symbols, reflectors, dividers and CCTV camera are must in the streets,” Giri said, adding, “Similarly human resource crunch at traffic police offices must be addressed.”
The biggest reason behind rise in the number of accidents, according to Giri, is the arrival of thousands of vehicles on road very month. “The number of motorbikes, cars, jeeps and buses are increasing every month; but roads have not been expanded proportionately,” said Giri.
| Months | Accidents | Death |
| August | 351 | 12 |
| Sept | 383 | 15 |
| Oct | 364 | 13 |
| Nov | 309 | 10 |
| Dec | 440 | 7 |
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