manoj

It’s night and the roads are wide open. You command around 1300cc of machine and metal in your hands and the temptation to step on the gas is overpowering. You give in.

You speed through the empty streets of the sleeping metropolis, high on acceleration. But a vehicle, which can be either a necessity or a luxury, can just as easily be a killing machine as it can be a joytoy.


Figures compiled by the traffic department in the past year reveal that nearly 50% of fatal accidents in Mumbai occur in the dead of night or early morning. This, despite the fact that night-time traffic is almost 70% less than the day.

Of the 848 accidents that ended in fatalities in 2006, around 400 were blamed on rash, negligent or drunken driving at night.

The temptation to pedalpush becomes even stronger as 80 to 90% of signals are off at night, said a traffic official. At the Four Bungalows junction early Tuesday morning, police said the lights were either flashing red or yellow at the time of the crash.

With only 20% of the 2,700-strong traffic police force—or around 550 cops—on duty along the city’s 1,970 sq km of roads at night, the urge to break the rules is even stronger.

Human error is resposnsible for a large number of night crashes, police said. “90% of the accidents occur due to human error, like falling asleep at the wheel or racing at breakneck speed through empty roads,’’ the traffic official said. Drivers also do not stop or slow down for flashing red or yellow lights.

In the first three months of 2007, the traffic department registered 6,170 cases of rash and negligent driving, a record of sorts. Also registered were 841 cases of drunken driving. “Drivers throw caution to the wind when the last beat constable ends his duty and goes home,’’ said the traffic official. “We have now installed speed guns at key roads in Bandra, Worli and Marine Drive. These are places where youth are known to race each other, especially on weekends.’’

Source: http://epaper.timesofindia.com (Mumbai Edition)
Date Of Publish: 26-Apr-07

__________________
Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool.

junaid

drivers become out of control during late night. they always try to drive as fast as they can.

streetwisw

Firstly, all advertising that distracts traffic and covers up signs should be stopped. Speed limits need to be set not only for day time traffic driving but also as a guide to a motorist to warn him what the road is capable of............where are the speed signs???? Time to wake up authorities!!!

rangathal

yes : the roads are very bad. Two wheelers/carts/bicycles - drive very fast. Two wheelers never wear helmet even it is compulsiry becayse of miscept that helmet are not fit our head, loss of hair sweaty . But all false . WEAR HELMET SAVE YOUR LIFE
USE THE HARDWARE (HELMET)TO PROTECT YOUR (BRAIN & SKULL)

rangathal

DUE TO DRIVERS FAULT
ROAD SURFACE FAULT
VECHICLE FAULT
BUT 75 % IS DUE TO DRIVE FAULT
DRUNKEN DRIBVING /CELL DRIVING / BAD OVERTAKING/
OVER SPEED/ NOT WEARING HELMET / TOO CLOSELY RIDING THE HEAVY VECHICLE IN THE HIGH WAYS/ VILLAGE RIFERS ARE THE WORST
GET THE LIOCENCSE .... hOW
WITHOUT KNOWING THE TRAFFIC RULES

varun

simple : By just greasing the palms of RTO officials or through an rto agent