Rash driving kills more in Kerala

ALAPPUZHA: The authorities have failed to check rash driving which is the major reason for serious accidents in the state. As per the data of the State Crime Records Bureau, rash driving resulted in the deaths of 3,567 people last year while 41,795 were injured.

A total of 4,131 people died in 38,470 accidents across the state. Drunken driving killed two persons and injured 29 in 23 accidents last year compared to seven deaths in 102 accidents in 2016.

Rash driving has become a major cause of concern in the state over the years. In 2016, the number of deaths by rash driving was 3,659. The number of accidents that occurred on the National Highway stretch is 8, 8993 while 7, 043 happened on state highways and the rest on rural roads.

At least 28, 014 accidents took place during day time and the rest at night. The vehicles involved are 33, 534 motorcycles, 12,295 motor cars, 5,651 autorickshaws, 2,971 private carriers, 1,840 lorries, 1,252 Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses, 1,725 mini-buses and 618 jeeps. Two-wheelers are the major victims of the road accidents.

"The reason for the alarming figures is the increasing vehicle population and lack of infrastructure," says Mr Upendra Narayanan, a road safety expert. "Modernisation is lacking in enforcement and infrastructure development in proportion to the number of vehicles," he observes.