HYDERABAD: In a new report furnished by road safety and railways department of Telangana State, it was revealed that road accidents in the state have reduced by 2 per cent in 2017, as compared to the 2016 figures and 617 lives were saved during 2017. Accident severity (number of persons killed in 100 accidents) has also gradually reduced from 34.4 per cent in 2014 to 33.5 per cent in 2015 to 31.4 per cent in 2016 and 29.4 per cent in 2017, whereas it has increased from 28.5 per cent in 2014 to 31.4 per cent in 2016 on the national scoreboard.
The police laid emphasis on creating awareness against over speeding, drunken driving, over-loading, non-wearing of helmet, using mobile phone while driving and non-wearing of seat belt etc.
“The police interacted with school children and conducted awareness programmes in educational institutions by exhibiting short films and live video footage to students on prevention of road accidents. Officials also took up a massive campaign to create awareness amongst people including autorickshaw drivers, truck drivers and IT professional on road safety and prevention of road accidents. Cops were asked to launch special drives to avert road accidents and casualties in their respective jurisdictions and to book cases under MV Act,” said T. Krishna Prasad, director general of police road safety and railways adding that about 85 lakh cases were booked in 2017 as against only 50 lakh cases in 2014 and '190 cror compounding fee was collected in 2017, as against only '95 crore.
