AHMEDABAD: Don’t be surprised, nearly 46% of the total 2,600km city road length is prone to road crash. This observation was made in a recent study by the city traffic department and Cept University.
There are 64 locations in Ahmedabad which are responsible for more road fatalities in the city.
Times View
A 2019 accident survey revealed that nearly 46% of Ahmedabad roads are unsafe. This calls for stricter licencing norms. It’s high time that the RTO and the traffic department formulate a road accident recording system for integrating safety into road carriage way design and construction and also plan awareness activities in schools and colleges
A December 2019 road accident study conducted on behalf of Ahmedabad traffic police by JP Research, had studied 1,375 accidents within municipal and nearby peripheral areas of the city. Of these, 44% of accidents had at least one minor injury, 31% accidents had serious injuries and in 25% at least one occupant lost life.
It was observed that the highest accidents during the year took place on Wednesdays which is 16% of the total.
Also close to 19% of the accidents took place during peak hours between 9am and 12pm and then again between 9pm and 11pm during peak evening hours. The study also pointed towards crucial road infrastructure needed to be installed at accident-prone areas.
“Traffic calming devices should be used to slow vehicles to desired speeds. These can be installed just before an approach to an intersection. This will also reduce the reaction time while encountering critical situations as this feature grabs the attention of the road user,” claims the research paper. The study also suggested proper road marking and signage to direct and guide road users. “These signages are useful for drivers helping them to quickly decide what to do and where to go, all while negotiating traffic. If proper road signage and markings are missing, the driving environment becomes even more dangerous,” claims the research.