There has been a steep fall in the number of road accidents and, consequently, a sharp decline of 65% in deaths due to road mishaps during the Covid-19 lockdowns between March 25 and May 31.
According to a senior State Transport Authority (STA), during the lockdown period, 384 persons were killed and 722 injured in 836 road accidents compared as many as 1,087 deaths and 2,175 cases of injury in 2,107 accidents during the corresponding period of 2019,
In April this year, the number of deaths due to road accidents was 118 against 485 in the same period in 2019, registering a decline of about 74%. Total 231 road mishaps were reported in April 2020 against 877 in April last year.
In May 2020, the number of deaths was 243 against 494 in May 2019, recording a decline of about 51%. Total 551 road accidents were reported in May this year against 953 in May last year.
The lockdown also had its impact on motor vehicle revenue collection. The STA official said Rs 159.8 crore has been collected in the first quarter from April to June this year against Rs 384 crore in April-June 2019, about a 58% decline.
However, in June it picked up with a collection of Rs 96 crore against Rs 112.7 crore in June 2019, a decrease of 14.8% in real terms.