99% fatal accidents due to rash driving

Sunday’s incident of a speeding truck driver running over seven pedestrians, killing two, in Ghatkopar was not an isolated case.

Rash driving was responsible for 99% of accidents in the city in 2011, revealed the Mumbai traffic police.

Of the 539 fatal accidents in which 563 people were killed in 2011, in 98.7% of the cases it was the driver’s fault. The remaining accidents were attributed to either mechanical defects in the vehicle, bad road, bad weather condition or the victims’ fault.

To curb rash driving, the Mumbai traffic police have organised awareness campaigns in schools and colleges for educate the youngsters about its hazards.

“We have also put up warning signboards on major junctions and the Eastern and Western Express Highways to create awareness about road safety,” said Vivek Phansalkar, joint commissioner of police (traffic).

He added that the crackdown on drink-driving since 2007 has yielded results too.

“We invite school students to visit our Children ‘s Park at Ghatkopar and Colaba and give them basic knowledge about traffic rules,” said Phansalkar.

But motorists are not convinced.  Mulund resident Suresh Jagdale said: “The growing road congestion could be the main reason for accidents.”