A Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety conducted a study along with Mumbai Traffic Police and found out that road deaths have declined since 2015. As per the official data, in the last two years, fatal road accidents have declined by 20 per cent.
Road deaths have been on a decline since 2015, which has recorded the highest number of 611 people killed. In comparison, the record for 2017 shows 490 people being killed in road accidents. This indicates there has been a 20 per cent decrease in fatal accidents in the last two years, said the report.
According to the officials, proactive identification and management of black spots, effective enforcement of wearing helmets, prevention of speeding and drinking & driving, coupled with engineering solutions have led to a reduction in fatal road accidents in the last two years.
According to the study, Eastern Express Highway (EEH) is considered as a ‘high-risk area’ in the city and pedestrians and motorcyclists have been identified as most vulnerable road users.
The data showed that last year, 52 per cent of victims in road accidents were pedestrians and 38 per cent were motorcyclists. Among the victims, 83 per cent were men, of which 62 per cent were in the 15 to 44 age group.
A traffic police officer said that earlier motorcyclists and pillion riders did not use helmets but with increased surprised checks and e-challans initiative, motorcyclists started wearing the same. Also, an increase has been reported in helmet use from 68 per cent in 2015 to 92 per cent in 2018.
As per the study findings, only 43 per cent pillion riders strap the helmets correctly. Also, only one per cent pillion riders wear helmets in the first place and fewer than one per cent of them strap the helmets properly. The rate of riders and pillions wearing helmets properly has increased from 24 per cent in 2015 to 34 per cent in late 2017.
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