Delhi roads register sharp drop in night accidents

Delhi’s roads seem to have become safer during night hours. The first four months of this year have seen a significant drop in accidents - about 19% - during the first four months of this year as compared to the same period last year. The traffic police attribute it to increased presence of cops on roads till late night, Subhendu Ray reports.

Delhi’s roads seem to have become safer during night hours. The first four months of this year have seen a significant drop in accidents - about 19% - during the first four months of this year as compared to the same period last year. The traffic police attribute it to increased presence of cops on roads till late night.

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Last year, 223 people were killed on roads during night hours (9 pm to 4 am). In 2013, the toll in the same hours (till April 30) has come down to 180.

“We can bring down road deaths significantly during peak night hours - 9 pm to 12 midnight - when maximum road accidents used to take place. As compared to 134 deaths last year (9 pm to 12 midnight) till April 30, it has come down to 104 this year, reducing the death toll by 30,” said Anil Shukla, additional commissioner of police (traffic). Road deaths during lean night hours (midnight to 4 am) have also come down from 89 during last year to 76 this year.

“This is the result of presence of our men till 12.30 am on city’s strategic locations,” said Anil Shukla, additional commissioner of police (traffic). The Delhi Police have increased the duty timings of traffic police from 10pm to 12.30 am earlier this year.

Crackdown on speeding vehicles and drunk drivers and intense checking of goods vehicles at entry points at borders have resulted in road deaths going down, he said.

There has been a steep drop in overall road deaths also. While 620 people died in 604 fatal accidents till April 30 last year, only 536 people have died in 521 road accidents during the same period this year.

Some of the interventions that have resulted in the drop in accidents include repairing broken roads near junctions and broken central verges, marking the road junctions, installing blinkers, reflectors, cat eyes and speed calming strips among others.