An initiative has been taken by the Regional Transport Office here to identify the accident-prone zones in the NH stretch in the Baleswar region.
In a year while about 200 accidents occur in about 120 km length, including 70 km under NH-5 and 50 km under the NH-60, the death toll is about 100.
In order to contain the accidents, the department said as many as 20 patches have been identified as vulnerable to accident ‘black spots’.
The prominent fatal zones have Soro, Simulia, Rupsa, Basta, Jaleswar and laxamnnath. The main causes of accidents, besides human factors, are unrestricted entry from branch roads to the highway, unauthorized cutting of NH dividers and unregulated growth of bushes on the dividers, where stray cattle are often found.
The human factors which contribute to the accidents include rash and drunken driving, overloaded vehicle and use of cell phone while driving.
“The Central Government has directed to identify the black spots on the NH stretches and accordingly, with the joint survey by the Transport Department and the police, about 20 spots have been identified where fatal accidents occur,” said Regional Transport Officer , Baleswar Amresh Patra.