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Mumbai roads were comparatively safer last year!

Mumbai roads were safer in 2014! At least, that's what the latest traffic police data shows. The number of fatal and non-fatal accidents last year was less compared to 2013.

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Mumbai roads were safer in 2014! At least, that's what the latest traffic police data shows. The number of fatal and non-fatal accidents last year was less compared to 2013.

In 2014, the number of fatal accidents came down from 574 in 2013 to 512. And the number of non-fatal accidents last year was only 22,057 compared to 23,020 in 2013.

Last year in Mumbai, 534 people were killed in road accidents as compared to 595 in 2013.

The department attributes the lesser number of accidents to a number of factors – awareness measures, stricter enforcement of law, intensive checking and road improvement measures in partnership with other government agencies.

The highest number of fatalities, 214, which is 40% of the total number, was reported in Eastern suburbs – Trombay, Chembur, Vikhroli and Matunga; followed by Northern suburbs – Goregaon, Borivli and Kandivli (112); and Western suburbs – Vakola, Bandra and DN Nagar (97).

BK Upadhyay, joint commissioner of police, Traffic, said: "We have been carrying out a number of safety drives and our vigilance has strengthened like never before. Last year, we intensified drive against drink-driving, signal jumping and helmetless riding, and this has had its effect."

In 2014, there were 16,013 cases of drink-driving; fine collected was over Rs 37 crore. The number of signal-jumping cases was 3,02,367, and helmetless riding cases 2,88,517. There was considerable increase in the number of these two offences compared to 2013.

"We have increased vigil against drink-driving from three days a week to four days, and that has helped reduce fatalities. Last year we also initiated helmet nakabandis and caught several offenders. Helmetless riding is a major cause of fatalities," added Pratap Dighavkar, DCP, traffic police.

Last year, in a first-of-its-kind move, department officials visited about 50 busy spots and brought about a lot of changes in road infrastructure, policing, etc in partnership with agencies like BMC, MSRDC, etc.

Qaiser Khalid, additional commissioner of police, Traffic, said: "We visited a number of spots on Eastern Express Highway, Western Express Highway, SCLR and studied traffic dynamics. At a number of spots, we put up speed breakers, signages, rumblers and road reflectors."

Several traffic islands were shifted as per the traffic flow and road authorities were roped in for repair and changing road engineering at vulnerable spots.

"To help pedestrians, we repainted pedestrian crossings, road markings and also suggested increasing the width of footpaths," added Upadhyay.

The department set up at least 10 to 15 speed breakers in the city to reduce accidents.

The department feels it's its prerogative to inculcate discipline among motorists. "We hold workshops for motorists booked for offences such as rash driving, speeding, etc and talk to them on road rules. And we, in association with NGOs, counsel drunk drivers," added Dighavkar.

According to Dighavkar, motorists can be disciplined only through stricter enforcement of law and giving offenders maximum punishment. "Sadly, only fear instils discipline. Therefore, we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that offenders are penalised, and that has helped in reducing road mishaps," he added.

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