Transport Department launched the Road Safety Week celebrations

Road rage has claimed more lives in the district than any other in the State, if the statistics available with the official are any indication.

With 919 deaths being reported last year, the district has earned the dubious distinction of topping the list. The data released by the Road Transport Authority (RTA) have revealed that the number of accident related fatalities reported from the district has remained alarmingly high in 2016 too (936). Chittor recorded 862 deaths followed by East Godavari (845), while Vizianagaram and Srikakulum districts recorded the lowest number of deaths (314 and 317 respectively) in the corresponding period.

Even as the Transport Department launched the Road Safety Week celebrations on Monday, the alarming rise in the road accidents across the State remained a matter of concern.

The year 2017 witnessed 22,461 accidents, claiming 8,041 lives and leaving 27,519 persons injured. The rate of accidents though has slightly come down when compared to 2016, the data point out to glaring loopholes in the transport management. In 2016, as many as 23,726 cases relating to road accidents were reported, claiming 8,543 lives and leaving 30,245 persons injured.“Rash and negligent driving remain the main reason for the higher number of road accidents. In some cases, bad road engineering plays a role. Most of the accidents involve two-wheelers, for not wearing helmets.

The Transport Department has recently conducted road safety audit with assistance of students of engineering colleges across the State.The report has pointed out to several structural defects in the road engineering and made several key suggestions,’’ said Deputy Transport Commissioner, Guntur, M.V Raja Ratnam.

Awareness campaign

Meanwhile, the department has lined up a series of activities beginning Monday including a battery of awareness campaigns for lorry drivers, auto drivers, students and etc.District Collector Kona Sasidhar who flagged off an awareness rally on road safety also released posters.