Rising motor accidents and related deaths in rural areas are a major cause of concern. Rural roads in Odisha are more hazardous as more than 80 per cent accidents occur on these stretches, reveals a latest study on area wise road accidents occurred in 2018.
During 2018, at least 81.06 per cent of road accidents occurred on rural roads, while in urban zones 18.93 per cent accidents were reported.
Fatality on roads is on the rise as in 2018 it has been reported that 5,237 deaths occurred due to road mishaps, which was 4,790 during 2017 and 4,463 in 2016.
And deaths on roads are recorded highest in district like Gajapati, which is mostly rural and tribal, where fatality rate is 65.26 per cent. Similarly Sundargarh records second highest death toll of 63.92 per cent due to road accidents, while Mayurbhanj has the share of 57.03 per cent of fatality rate.
All these districts are predominantly having rural and tribal areas, which are the top three districts having high fatality rate.
Transport Commissioner Sanjeeb Kumar Panda has done a detailed analysis of road accidents, which was presented in the Senior Police Officers Meet to chalk out plans to curb road accidents.
According to analysis, road wise highest number of accidents occurring in State Highways, which is 44.01 per cent and on National Highways, 27.86 per cent accidents are reported. Other roads account for 27.34 per cent accidents.
So it is a fact that more accidents occur on State Highways, PMGSY roads, Panchayat roads, which criss-cross rural areas of the State.
Timing wise, it is the day time, which has the share of 53.10 per cent of accidents, while in night time 46.89 per cent of accidents are occurring.
While most accidents indicate rash and negligent driving, unprofessional approach attributes most, feel experts.
A study on mechanical impact of road accidents reveal that vehicle to vehicle dash results in 52.64 per cent of accidents, while vehicle to pedestrian is 23.90 per cent.
Vehicle to bicycle is 7.27 per cent, while hit to parked vehicles is 2.56 per cent, reveal the study. Vehicle to animal dash accounts for is 1.16 per cent of the accidents.
Under this backdrop, in order to improve road safety highway patrolling will be organised in at least five stretches of National Highways covering over 1,000 km.
Bhubaneswar to Puri, a highly busy National Highway covering 70km, will have dedicated highway patrolling.
Similarly from Jaleswar to Icchapuram, the National Highway will be covered by patrolling. Manguli to Sambalpur, Sambalpur to Rourkela and Sambalpur to Sohela will be under patrolling as these stretches report most number of accidents.
In order to improve road safety, the State Government has implemented Driving Electronic Enforcement To Save Human Lives (DEESHA) between Rameswar to Chandikhol.
All sorts of traffic violations are recorded in electronic devices set up by the enforcement agencies. Secondly, auto generation of eChallan, in over speeding, triple riding, without helmet, riding in opposite directions are organised, said sources.