Alarming rise: Fatal road accidents surged by 120 in 2022, claiming 115 more lives

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Every year in India, over 1.5 lakh people lose their lives in Road Traffic Accidents (RTA). The frequency of accidents is alarming, with an average of one reported every minute and one person dying every three minutes.

These accidents primarily affect individuals between the ages of 25 and 65, who are often the breadwinners of their families. The exponential growth of the city has led to increased traffic congestion, longer journey times and a higher number of road traffic accidents.

Despite the significant increase in vehicular population from 1.7 lakhs in 1985 to 1.09 crores at the end of 2022, the road infrastructure has not been developed proportionally. In a report released by the Bengaluru Traffic Police, an analysis of fatal accidents reported between the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 was conducted.

According to the report, there has been a rise in the number of accidents, with an increase of 120 cases in 2022 compared to 2020. Similarly, the number of people killed in these accidents has also seen an increase of 115 persons in 2022.

The report further reveals that fatal accidents involving pedestrians have been a major concern. The majority of accidents occurred when individuals were crossing the road or walking roadside, resulting in a total of 106 deaths in 2022 alone. Furthermore, the report indicates that BMTC buses were responsible for 33 fatalities in 2022, a rise from 27 fatalities in 2021.

Another alarming figure is the recorded deaths of over 100 two-wheeler riders due to not wearing a helmet in 2022. This emphasises the critical importance of enforcing helmet usage. Moreover, the report also identifies that over 90 deaths in 2022 were attributed to drivers operating vehicles without a valid licence. This highlights the necessity of enforcement to deter unlicensed driving and reduce associated fatalities.