Srinagar 28 January (KNB): With 92 deaths in 974 accidents, Jammu district recorded the highest number of accidents and fatality due to it, in the year 2020, followed by 66 deaths in 365 accidents in Udhampur district of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Traffic Police data shows.
As per the data, 4860 accidents have taken place across all districts of J&K during the year 2020, in which 728 people have died.
In Kashmir division, there have been 1774 accidents across all districts (including Handwara Tehsil) in which 241 people have lost their lives.
With 275 road accidents that took place in Srinagar district, 44 were fatal accidents and the total injuries reported in these accidents were 275 and 45 people died.
With 265, Anantnag district recorded the second highest number of accidents in Kashmir division in which 38 people lost their lives and 324 were injured. Among the injured, 44 people suffered grievous injuries and the rest sustained minor ones.
Across all the districts of Jammu division 3086 road accidents took place, which resulted in deaths of 487 people in the year 2020.
There are several reasons due to which accidents take place in the UT Jammu and Kashmir. Few among them are, driving without License (without proper training), driving at excessive speed, plying against no entry, disobeying traffic signals, double pillion riding, driving without crash helmets, reckless driving, drunken driving and many more.
Being more critical, there are several other road factors that contribute to accidents, such as pedestrians being careless, crossing at wrong places, moving on carriageways and jaywalking. But the fact that Kashmir lacks proper pedestrian pathways and cycling tracks can’t be ruled out.
When it comes to vehicles, failure of brakes or steering, tyre bursts, insufficient headlights and overloading has also been a factor behind the accidents.
It is important to mention that Potholes, damaged roads, inappropriate diversions and illegal speed breakers also contribute to the number of unfortunate incidents throughout the region.
While speaking to Kashmir News Bureau, SP Traffic Rural Kashmir Manzoor Ahmad Mir said that despite knowing general rules and safety measures, drivers/riders act irresponsible.
“People are quite aware about traffic rules but they don’t play by them. They break traffic signals; don’t follow the signboards, which are there to maintain a proper vehicular movement. Their negligence towards these rules eventually cause unfortunate incidents in which people get injured as well as lose their precious lives,” he said, adding that safety measures such as putting on seat belts and headgears while driving/riding is a step that needs to be taken as well as advised by parents/guardians to their loved ones.
SP Mir said that it is the responsibility of the people to make their family members, children, friends understand that adhering to proper traffic rules and taking proper safety measures is for their benefit.
“Until and unless citizens don’t understand the importance of putting on seat-belts and wear helmets, Traffic Police issuing Challans to them won’t make any difference,” he added.
Pertinently, official data reveals, 424835 challans were done by J&K Traffic Police across all regions of the UT, in the year 2020.
In Srinagar City, 53080 challans were done by traffic officials, out of which 7878 were court challans and 45202 were compound challans. In Rural Kashmir 116398 challans, City Jammu 141249 challans, Rural Jammu 27829 challans and on NHW Ramban 46279 challans were done by traffic Police last year.
Throughout the world, motor Vehicle accidents are a major cause of death. Even though most of the road users are quite aware about the general rules and safety measures, the carelessness on their part becomes the reason for accidents and crashes, which lead to injuries, permanent disabilities and death. (KNB)