Contrary to the general perception that commercial vehicles are the lethal killers on the roads, private cars have claimed more lives on city’s roads than heavy vehicles (HTVs) and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses. Private cars have killed 271 people last year than 266 people by HTVs and 65 people have been killed by DTC buses. It is a common belief that unruly commercial vehicles kill more people on roads than the motorists driving the private cars, who are perceived to be more ‘disciplined’ on roads.
As per the figures available with the Delhi Traffic Police, most number of fatal accidents has been caused by the private cars. “Apart from these vehicles, tempos have claimed 18 lives, 161 by the two-wheelers and another 717 by unknown vehicles. DTC buses have killed 65 people last year, which is an increase from 58 in 2012,” said additional commissioner of police (traffic) Anil Shukla. Pedestrians continue to remain the most vulnerable lot on the roads as 747 of them have been killed in road accidents last year, which is a decrease from 829 in 2012.
This is followed by two-wheeled drivers and 609 of them have been killed in road accidents in 2013. Apart from these, 90 cyclists, 75 private cars, 36 TSRs and 25 tempo drivers have been killed in road accidents.