BHUBANESWAR: Last year, Odisha recorded a rise in road accident deaths due to non-use of helmet and seat belt while driving compared to 2018, the latest report—road accidents in India—released by the ministry of road transport and highways indicated.
A total of 1341 two-wheeler riders without helmets were killed in road accidents in the state in 2018. The casualty figure increased to 1423 last year. By not fastening the seat belt in four-wheelers, at least 380 drivers and 506 co-passengers died in accidents in 2019. In 2018, altogether 185 drivers and 424 passengers lost their lives in road mishaps for not fastening their seat belts.
“We have been creating awareness campaigns about the helmet and seat belt rules. Offenders are being penalized regularly. Regional transport officers have been given targets to intensify the crackdowns,” state transport commissioner Sanjeeb Panda said.
Overall deaths in road accidents recorded marginal increase in 2019 as against 2018, the report said. While 5315 persons died in road accidents in 2018, the casualty figure rose to 5333, the report said. Odisha stood 12th among top 15 states for witnessing maximum deaths consecutively in 2018 and 2019.
The ‘road accidents in India’ data showed reduction in deaths due to drink driving in Odisha in 2019 as compared to 2018. The state had stood second in the country with 552 deaths due to drink driving in 2018. The latest report has placed the state at fourth rank with 507 deaths of people, who were driving under the influence of alcohol in 2019. Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 2224 deaths, Punjab with 889 deaths and Jharkhand with 578 drink driving deaths last year.
The transport and police officials said the number of drink driving deaths came down in 2019 due to introduction of amended motor vehicles (MV) Act with steep penal provisions and joint enforcement drives against the offenders. The amended MV Act that came into force on September 1, 2019 has heavy fine provision of Rs 10,000 for drink driving.
The report said deaths due to the use of mobile phones came down in the state last year compared to 2018. Odisha ranked fourth with 205 deaths due to use of mobile phones while driving in 2019. Uttar Pradesh topped with 2699 such deaths while Punjab (881 deaths) and Haryana (243 deaths) ranked second and third, respectively last year. In 2018, Odisha had stood third with 260 deaths due to use of mobile phones while driving. Uttar Pradesh (1956 deaths) and Haryana (269 deaths) had come first and second, respectively, in 2018.