Thiruvananthapuram: Unscientifically designed junctions, bad roads, reluctance of drivers to dip headlights and rash driving have resulted in an alarming increase in night-time road accidents. Lighting of minor streets is poor and many stretches have become death traps for night-time travellers. Of the 41,493 road accidents that occurred in the State during 2005, 13,983 occurred during night. This comes to thirty-four per cent.
In the rural areas of Thiruvananthapuram district, 57 per cent of the road accidents occurred during night. In the capital city limits, it was 36 per cent. Surprisingly, night-time road accidents were less in rural areas compared to urban areas of Kochi and Kozhikode.
Road accident statistics up to September 2006 reveal that night-time accidents in rural areas of Thiruvananthapuram had gone up to 58 per cent. In the case of the capital city, the percentage of road accidents during night went up from 36 per cent in 2005 to 42 per cent in 2006.
In Ernakulam rural, the percentage of night-time accidents went up from 31 per cent in 2005 to 62 per cent in 2006. In the case of Ernakulam city, the rate came down from 33 per cent to 26 per cent.
In Kozhikode city, the percentage of road accidents during night came down from 42 per cent in 2005 to 37 per cent in 2006. In Kozhikode rural, night-time accidents went up from 27 per cent in 2005 to 30 per cent in 2006. Chief Project Coordinator of National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (Natpac) Mahesh Chand said the State was facing a serious road-accident situation in general and acute night-time safety problems in particular. "With the more number of people owning vehicles in the State, there is an unprecedented growth in night-time travel," Mr. Chand said.
`Collision-type' accidents are more frequent during night time. Drivers do not dip the light and a good number of accidents take place due to `glare-blinding.' "Motorists should dim the lights before they cause glare-blinding of drivers coming in the opposite direction. High beam should be used only when it is necessary," Dr. Chand said.
In the rural areas of Thiruvananthapuram district, 57 per cent of the road accidents occurred during night. In the capital city limits, it was 36 per cent. Surprisingly, night-time road accidents were less in rural areas compared to urban areas of Kochi and Kozhikode.
Road accident statistics up to September 2006 reveal that night-time accidents in rural areas of Thiruvananthapuram had gone up to 58 per cent. In the case of the capital city, the percentage of road accidents during night went up from 36 per cent in 2005 to 42 per cent in 2006.
In Ernakulam rural, the percentage of night-time accidents went up from 31 per cent in 2005 to 62 per cent in 2006. In the case of Ernakulam city, the rate came down from 33 per cent to 26 per cent.
In Kozhikode city, the percentage of road accidents during night came down from 42 per cent in 2005 to 37 per cent in 2006. In Kozhikode rural, night-time accidents went up from 27 per cent in 2005 to 30 per cent in 2006. Chief Project Coordinator of National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (Natpac) Mahesh Chand said the State was facing a serious road-accident situation in general and acute night-time safety problems in particular. "With the more number of people owning vehicles in the State, there is an unprecedented growth in night-time travel," Mr. Chand said.
`Collision-type' accidents are more frequent during night time. Drivers do not dip the light and a good number of accidents take place due to `glare-blinding.' "Motorists should dim the lights before they cause glare-blinding of drivers coming in the opposite direction. High beam should be used only when it is necessary," Dr. Chand said.
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