Mohammad Saqib, New Delhi. Every year thousands of people die in road accidents in the capital. The main reason for these road accidents is not only careless driving but black spots formed at various places also become the cause of death of people. Although the traffic police department along with all the agencies like Municipal Corporation, PWD, DDA etc. are continuously working to eliminate these deadly black spots, but their efforts are still proving unsuccessful and the fatal accidents at black spots are not being controlled.
Talking about this year, till November 30, 1,445 people have died in 1,402 road accidents. Whereas in the same period last year, 1,427 people died in 1,391 road accidents. This is the situation when this year the traffic police identified 143 black spots out of more than three hundred selected black spots and rectified them with the help of various agencies.
This provided some relief to the people in their mobility, but deaths could not be controlled due to careless drivers. Apart from this, 111 deadly black spots remain a matter of concern, which include Azadpur Vegetable Market, Wazirabad, Akshardham Temple, ISBT Kashmiri Gate, Anand Vihar ISBT, Bhalswa Chowk etc. Last year, 79 people died in these top ten black spots alone.
Delhi Traffic Police adopted a multi-pronged strategy to analyze accidents, focus on risk factors and improve road infrastructure. According to a senior traffic police official, the Crash Research Cell of Delhi Traffic Police analyzes accident mortality rates and identifies high-risk locations (black spots).
The Road Engineering Cell visits these places and recommends road safety improvements. This year, Delhi Traffic Police has identified 143 black spots and suggested better road design, installation of sign boards and road repairs to ensure safe travel for all road users. Along with this, meetings of District Road Safety Committees were actively organized, where various departments together worked on necessary reforms.
Special training given to more than 3,600 personnel
According to the traffic police, to reduce road accidents, the traffic police controlled the speed at more than 30 places, especially around schools, colleges and hospitals. For this, installation of speed breakers, roundabout design improvements and pedestrian crossings have been recommended.
More than 3,600 traffic police personnel have been given special training from experts on innovative techniques to control speed. The accident research team has also been trained to map high-risk routes and locations. Despite this, the number of deaths in road accidents is continuously increasing.
This is how black spots are identified
According to the traffic police, if at least five accidents (out of which three are fatal) occur in a year in a 500 meter stretch of a road, it is considered a 'black spot'. On this basis, the places which have been described as most dangerous include areas like Sarai Kale Khan, Rajokri Flyover, Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, Ashram Chowk, Dwarka Sector 23 and Zakhira Flyover.
Accidents increase in dense fog
Dense fog is the main reason for road accidents during the winter season. According to the traffic police crash report, the main reasons for accidents in fog are use of makeshift vehicles, double-decker vehicles loaded with chaff and sugarcane, high-speed dumpers loaded with construction material, poor fitness of commercial vehicles and tractor-trailers, lack of taillights and reflectors, and overloading.
During dark and foggy winter nights, such vehicles suddenly appear as 'black spots' on the road and cause accidents. Despite annual efforts to curb these habits, this trend continues unabated. The crash report of the traffic police clearly states that during foggy months, every fourth case of rear collision is related to such vehicles.
Ten deadliest black spots where maximum deaths occurred
(Figures are from last year)
Deaths in accidents involving different vehicles
(Figures are till November 30)