Delhi: hit-and-run scare on roads

Though better traffic management seems to have brought down fatal accidents, hit-and-run cases continue to claim the maximum number of lives on Delhi’s roads.

Though better traffic management seems to have brought down fatal accidents, hit-and-run cases continue to claim the maximum number of lives on Delhi’s roads.

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Delhi roads have seen 347 deaths in 340 hit-and-run cases till July 15 last year, compared with 371 deaths in as many cases in the same period.

From January to mid-July, a total of 892 persons were killed in different road accidents; last year’s overall figure was 975.

Officials say this is one area where they have virtually no control as most cases take place during night hours when traffic police are off the road.“We have been trying to bring down road accidents through stricter law enforcement and improved traffic management. But hit-and-run cases could not be brought down,” admitted Anil Shukla, ACP (traffic).

The police said transport vehicles caused most such cases.”If we can arrest the menace, our annual road deaths will considerably drop,” a police officer said.

“Such cases can be curbed only with the help of technology. Police claim they are contemplating camera surveillance system on city roads. Once this is in place, hit-and-run cases will fall significantly,” said KK Kapila, chairman, International Road Federation.

On June 18, former international cyclist and chief coach Ruma Chatterjee was killed in a hit-and-run case on the Greater Noida expressway.“There have been cases when heavy transport vehicles hit road users and fled. The police could not note down the registration numbers as they were not legible,” Shukla said. The traffic police have initiated a drive against use of fancy or defective number plates and raised the fine from Rs 100 to Rs 2000.