Road accidents are increasing with almost one or two road mishaps being reported in mountainous parts and plains in the state on a daily basis. Drunken driving, over loading and over speeding are stated to be the main reasons for road accidents in the state. As per the statistics from the police department, the numbers of challans issued under Motor Vehicles Act in mountainous districts are less than those of plain districts in the last year. About 25366 challans were issued for traffic violations in Uttarkashi while only 42 applications were sent to transport department for suspension and cancellation of driving license.
About 16016 challans were slapped on violators under MV Act in Bageshwar district while no application was sent to transport department for suspension or cancellation of driving license.
Similarly, 84682 challans were issued for traffic violations in Tehri while 33 applications were sent to transport department for further action.
In Chamoli, 27158 challans were slapped on traffic violators while five applications were sent to transport department for action. In Almora district, 35, 205 challans were issued for traffic violation and 17 applications were sent to transport department for action while in Pithoragarh district 44867 challans were issued and 10 applications were sent to transport department for suspension or cancellation of driving license. In Champawat, 25, 655 challans were issued and nine applications were sent to transport department for necessary action. In Rudraprayag district, 9616 challans were slapped for traffic violations and 21 applications were sent to transport department for suspension or cancellation of driving license.
In Pauri district, 76157 challans were issued and 34 applications were sent to transport department for further action.
In the four plain districts the numbers of challans issued under the MV Act on violators are more than in the mountainous parts. A total of 2, 35, 252 challans were issued for traffic violations in Dehradun while 4490 applications were sent to transport department for suspension or cancellation of driving license. Similarly, 1, 01, 969 challans were issued for traffic violation in Haridwar while 894 applications were sent to transport department for further action. In Nainital district, 1, 32, 980 challans were slapped in traffic violation cases and 78 applications were sent to transport department. In Udham Singh Nagar district, 2,27, 297 challans were issued for traffic violations and 206 applications were sent to transport department for suspension and cancellation of driving license.
Observers opine that in most of the cases factors like negligence, drunken driving, over loading and rash driving are main reasons for road accidents especially in the mountainous regions. The chances of increased human casualties in road accident in mountains are more than on the plains. But, numbers of challans issued to the violators in mountainous regions are not upto the mark in comparison to plains.