Hyderabad: Heavy vehicles behind most road mishaps

Hyderabad: In most hit-and-run cases nearly 30 percent of the vehicles are unknown. Heavy vehicles from neighbouring districts and states crossing the city are suspected to be the main culprits. Heavy vehicles, like trucks, tippers, tankers and vans are the most dangerous vehicles on the city outskirts.

According to the data of Cyberabad police in January alone there were 20 fatal accidents caused by such vehicles on the city outskirts. In 2014, unknown vehicles caused 199 accidents, while heavy vehicles and vans caused 269 accidents. A large number of accidents were reported to occur between 6 pm and 12 pm. There were 31 mishaps reported during these hours in January alone, the police data shows.

Road safety experts say that a system devised to control rash driving of heavy vehicles, especially at night, would reduce the number of fatalities in road accidents by half. “At night, the drivers of heavy vehicle drivers are fatigued after driving long hours, some are drunk, while some fall asleep while driving, which are the main factors leading to road accidents, said a senior traffic cop from Cyberabad. Absences of traffic cops on the roads also encourage them to drive rashly.

The drivers never stop their vehicle or help accident victims. Even if registration numbers are noted, it is difficult to track them since they would have crossed into other states within the next few days, said police inspector from Cyberabad.