The Maharashtra transport department's recent statistics indicate that the number of accidents in the city is increasing. Last year, between January and November, Mumbai and its metropolitan region (MMR) saw 4,935 road accidents. Of the total incidents, 2,319 were reported in Mumbai. The mishaps resulted in the death of 1,108 people in MMR. Of these, 299 were in the city.
On the other hand, the state figures indicate a minor improvement giving a sigh of relief. In Maharashtra, there were 98 fewer road accident fatalities between January and November. During this time, 32,801 traffic incidents resulted in 13,823 fatalities in the state.
Road accident fatalities have decreased for the first time since COVID-19, reported the transport department authorities. A senior official in the transport department said that they expect it to remain like this in December as well. They have taken a series of action to reduce the number of fatalities on the highways and motorways.
Among the actions mentioned by the official were the installation of an Intelligent Traffic Management System, the deployment of interceptor vehicles on the Mumbai-Pune Motorway, and round-the-clock CCTV surveillance. An official said that they also issued over 2,00,000 e-challans to heavy vehicles plying on the extreme right lane in the last 12 to 15 months. Similarly, they deployed RTO officers with breathalysers, tyre gauges and interceptor vehicles on the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg.
Another official said that the transport department had a procedure in place wherein a car would be stopped and the driver would be sent to the office for a counselling session if the vehicle's average speed on the Samruddhi Mahamarg exceeded 120 kmph from beginning to end. They noticed that there were 96 deaths on the Mahamarg last year, down from 148 in 2023, he stated.
Within the next 15 to 30 days, the radar-based interceptor vehicles -- which can send out 1000 e-challans per hour -- will be operational. RTOs receive interceptor vehicles but without radars, the media reports said. Since 64% of all fatalities involved two-wheeler riders or pillions, 80% of whom were discovered without helmets at the scene of an accident, 69 interceptors will be deployed in cities to primarily apprehend drivers operating two-wheelers without helmets.
However, the resources acquired by the RTOs are not fully employed in terms of teaching applicants for two-wheeler driving licenses. For example, the government-purchased machine stands unused on the third floor of the simulator training cabin at the Andheri RTO. In order to obtain a learners' licence, applicants must complete a computerised test and respond to questions about road safety; however, the simulator is not utilised.
These simulators are occasionally used to test applicants, but it is not required, a senior transport department official defended. An RTO inspector uses it if they believe the applicant needs to be tested further.
As many as 70 people attended the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic life-saving training session held by the Andheri RTO on Thursday, January 9. They were subsequently awarded certificates. The instructor also covered the causes of traffic accidents, including reckless driving, speeding, and drunk driving.
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