Anilesh S Mahajan TNN
11th December, 2007
Chandigarh: The streets of Amritsar, which give the city an almost medieval feel are the most dangerous in Punjab when it comes to severity of accidental deaths. As per the analysis by TRRIP, IIT Delhi, 863 people die for every 1,000 accidents in the city. Meanwhile, on crash ratio value, six districts of Punjab are above the state’s average of 11.4 crashes per year for 10,000 registered vehicles. Jalandhar (5.9), Amritsar (5.5) and Ferozepur (8.5) follow Faridkot (4.1). Worse among all districts are Fathegarh Sahib (38.5) and Rupnagar (36.3). “This means there is a problem of infrastructure more than anything else,” said Navdeep Asija, scientist at IIT Delhi, who conducted the analysis with the help of Harpreet Kahlon, who runs an NGO here. When it comes to severity of the accidents in the state, Amritsar is followed by Jalandhar (759), Gurdaspur (736) and Mukatsar (731). The study also showed that although their were more accidents in Ludhiana, the severity there was less. “Ludhiana has more vehicles and hence the high number of accidents, but the severity is low,” added Asija. The 2006 accident figures in Punjab were taken into account for the study. It was found that as per the crime records bureau figures, Punjab has the lowest number of accident cases but when it came to severity it was third among all states in the country. Speaking to TOI, Punjab’s IG Traffic HS Dhillon said he is aware of the situation, and doing his bit to improve it. “Most of the accidents in the state take place because of drunk driving and speeding,” he said. “We have finalized the speed graphs for all the roads in the state and would be displaying them soon. Chief secretary has cleared the file for that,” he said. He said that the matter of constituting the Punjab safety council was pending with the government. Scientists recommend The scientists have recommended that the state should have its own online road crash database management system, where scientifically collected traffic and road crash data at the level of various administrative units is available. Punjab government should also ensure the implementation of road safety audits on all upcoming and existing roads in the state. There should be special focus on improving road safety measures and increasing traffic awareness among drivers. Also there should be better medical facilities in case accidents do take place. Cranes and ambulances should be easily available. Special steps should be taken to decrease the speed of vehicles in districts with high crash severity like Amritsar, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Gurdaspur and Muktsar.
Showing posts with label Punjab Road Safety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Punjab Road Safety. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Fatehgarh Sahib, Ropar roads most unsafe -
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071211/cth3.htm#11
Megha Mann
Tribune News Service
Kharar, December 10
Fatehgarh Sahib, Ropar and Patiala are the worst districts in terms of road safety and traffic management in Punjab.
According to an analysis done by Navdeep Asija, scientist with Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Programme (TRIPP), on road safety in Punjab for 2006, these districts have been found to have an alarmingly high rate of accidents.
Fatehgarh Sahib and Ropar have the highest crash ratio and lowest vehicle density.
In 2006, when Mohali was part of Ropar district, maximum number of accidents took place on the Kharar-Kurali stretch leading up to Ropar.
The stretch handles the entire traffic of Punjab towards Chandigarh.
The district-wise breakup in terms of fatal accidents puts Ludhiana on top, followed by Amritsar and Jalandhar.
However, detailed road safety diagnosis on all districts based on severity index, crash ratio, total road length and vehicle density shows a different picture, as Ropar and Fatehgarh Sahib districts come under high alert category. These are followed by Patiala, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar and Nawan Shahr districts.
“Detailed analysis on this parameter reflects the problem of traffic mismanagement in these districts. Every year, insurance companies give away Rs 1,200 crore in form of motor vehicle claims in the state. Even if 10 per cent of this money is spent on research and development on preventive measures and introducing new road technologies, things will be much better,” Navdeep added.
He has sent this analysis with a set of recommendations to DIG, SSP and DCs of all districts of the state.
He has also recommended that safety should be prime concern of every contractor undertaking any road project. “Safety concern is nobody’s baby. When the state government is not committed towards safeguarding lives of pedestrians, cyclists and other commuters, why will private contractors be?” he added.
Megha Mann
Tribune News Service
Kharar, December 10
Fatehgarh Sahib, Ropar and Patiala are the worst districts in terms of road safety and traffic management in Punjab.
According to an analysis done by Navdeep Asija, scientist with Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Programme (TRIPP), on road safety in Punjab for 2006, these districts have been found to have an alarmingly high rate of accidents.
Fatehgarh Sahib and Ropar have the highest crash ratio and lowest vehicle density.
In 2006, when Mohali was part of Ropar district, maximum number of accidents took place on the Kharar-Kurali stretch leading up to Ropar.
The stretch handles the entire traffic of Punjab towards Chandigarh.
The district-wise breakup in terms of fatal accidents puts Ludhiana on top, followed by Amritsar and Jalandhar.
However, detailed road safety diagnosis on all districts based on severity index, crash ratio, total road length and vehicle density shows a different picture, as Ropar and Fatehgarh Sahib districts come under high alert category. These are followed by Patiala, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar and Nawan Shahr districts.
“Detailed analysis on this parameter reflects the problem of traffic mismanagement in these districts. Every year, insurance companies give away Rs 1,200 crore in form of motor vehicle claims in the state. Even if 10 per cent of this money is spent on research and development on preventive measures and introducing new road technologies, things will be much better,” Navdeep added.
He has sent this analysis with a set of recommendations to DIG, SSP and DCs of all districts of the state.
He has also recommended that safety should be prime concern of every contractor undertaking any road project. “Safety concern is nobody’s baby. When the state government is not committed towards safeguarding lives of pedestrians, cyclists and other commuters, why will private contractors be?” he added.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Punjab Road Safety Analysis for the year 2006
Special Thanks to Mr. Harman Sidhu, President, ArriveSafe, Chandigarh Based NGO, working in the area of road safety for helping me to perform this analysis. http://www.arrivesafe.org/
Crash Ratio
Vehicle Density (Vehicle per Kilometer)
Coming to Punjab State, reversal is happening in Fatehgarh Sahib and Rupnagar District. Crash ratio of Fatehgarh Sahib and Rupnagar districts is 38.5 and 36.3 respectively; this simply reflects the poor traffic management system, deteriorated road condition and minimum speed control by the local administration and district traffic police. However it is important to note that Fatehgarh Sahib and Rupnagar districts have 0.8% and 2.8% of National Highways in their total road length, still causing more fatal road crashes in comparison to Ferozpur and Faridkot district which has 5.1% and 3.8% of National Highways Length in their total road length. Interestingly Ferozpur and Faridkot has got lowest crash ratio in the state. On all India basis 70% of the total road crashes occurs only on National Highways and length of National Highways is 2% of the total road length of India. Ferozpur and Faridkot districts having maximum road length of National Highways shows significant low crash ratio, which is a good indication of overall Traffic Management and Safety in the district.
If we take number of fatal accidents per 1000 km of the road length in the districts then Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib and Rupnagar falls into same category. These districts were having 50% high fatalities rate per 1000 km of the road length in comparison to the state’s average which is 44.3.
Talking about Amritsar alone, despite of this fact that crash ratio is 5.5 but Severity Index is 86.3%, which means high average speed in the district, more vulnerable victims like cyclist or pedestrians and more heavy vehicles involved in the road crashes turning 86.3% of all the road crashes into fatal. This needs immediate attention from the authorities.
District Rupnagar and Fathegarh sahib are on high alert followed by Patiala, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar and Nawanshahar districts. Government and local administration should take immediate steps to improve the road safety and management scenario in these districts to save the valuable lives of road users.
Recommendations
State’s own online road crash database management system, where scientifically collected traffic and road crash data at village/block/tehsil/road/district wise can be update regularly by various concern agencies. This will help to access the overall road safety conditions in the state.
As per Ministry of Road Surface and Transportation, government of India, Punjab government shall also ensure the implementation of Road safety audits on all upcoming and existing roads in the state. Upcoming BOT roads shall be taken on priority to check overall road safety conditions, specifically in view of heterogeneous nature of traffic in the state like slow and fast moving traffic on the same road.
Special focus by the government on the pre-crash treatments like road safety audits, safety awareness amongst road users, drivers training along with focusing specifically on Post crash conditions like providing Ambulances and Cranes and First Aid. Pre-crash treatments.
Strong enforcement to control the speed preferably by installing traffic calming devices specially in the districts where severity index is very high like Amritsar, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Gurdaspur and Muktsar.
Special and strong policies to control land use and parking pattern in the state to discourage the use of more motorised vehicles in the state.
[1] Maintained by P.W.D. (B&R), Punjab, Chief Conservator of Forest, Punjab Commander Works Engineer, Patiala, Punjab State Electricity Board, Central Public works department, Madhopur division and local bodies Govt., Punjab. it does not include the length of small rural roads under different agencies like Panchayat, Irrigation department and private people
Faridkot and Firozpur districts are the best and Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala and Roopnagar districts are the worse districts in terms of overall Road safety and Management in the district
Statistical analysis was performed on the Punjab Statistical Abstract for the year 2006, Section XXI, Transport and Communications. Even single road crash and fatality is a loss of nation, family and society. These road safety analyses are performed to highlight the safety situation in Punjab and the comparison of road safety situation amongst various districts of Punjab, so that suitable countermeasures at individual/institutional/NGO and government level shall be taken up to save the precious life of people. Basically these are broad road safety analysis; further these analyses at district/tehsil/village level shall perform to enhance the overall road safety situation in the state. As the more number of high speed corridors are coming up in the state resulting increased road fatalities; in last year road crash fatalities increased by 8.26%, whilst vehicle population increased by 6.75%. Details are discussed below;
Abstract
In the year 2006 total 4599 road crash occurred on 63102[1] km long road network in state which includes 1729 km of National Highways in 17 districts of the state. Registration of total 4030914 motor vehicles was reported in the year 2006 with an annual growth of 6.75% in comparison to last year growth of 7%.
Methodology
Detailed statistical analysis was performed on the district wise road crash and road length data of Punjab state. Followings are the key indicators considered for the analysis purpose:-
Severity Index
Severity Index
Abstract
In the year 2006 total 4599 road crash occurred on 63102[1] km long road network in state which includes 1729 km of National Highways in 17 districts of the state. Registration of total 4030914 motor vehicles was reported in the year 2006 with an annual growth of 6.75% in comparison to last year growth of 7%.
Methodology
Detailed statistical analysis was performed on the district wise road crash and road length data of Punjab state. Followings are the key indicators considered for the analysis purpose:-
Severity Index
Severity Index
It indicates that severity of the road crash in the district depends upon many factors, like average vehicle speed in the district, number of vehicles, percentage of National Highways or High Speed corridors in the state etc. Severity Index of the Punjab state was found to be 60.7%, which means 60.7% of the total road crashes occurred in the state are turned out to be Fatal.
Crash Ratio
It indicates the number of road crashes occurred per 10000 registered motor vehicles in the district. Crash ratio of the Punjab state was found to be 11.4 .Only 6 districts were found to be having crash ratio below state’s average value
Vehicle Density (Vehicle per Kilometer)
Vehicle density was calculated as mentioned above. It indicates the number of vehicles per kilometer of road length in the district. Vehicle density for the Punjab state in the year 2006 was 63.9 vehicles/per kilometer of road length.
Observations:
Considering, the number of fatal accidents district wise then probably Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar are the most unsafe districts in terms of Road Safety, but detailed road safety diagnosis on all the districts based upon the severity index, crash ratio, total road length and vehicle density in the district, resulted in altogether different trends. Whereas Faridkot district shows an excellent road safety and management record followed by district Ferozpur. Fathegarh Sahib, Rupnagar and Patiala were found out to be worse Hit. Based upon the vehicle density and severity Index Amritsar district is on alarming stage, in 86.3% of the total road crashes people died.
6 districts are below the state’s average crash ratio value 11.4, Faridkot is lowest amongst all followed by Jalandhar, Amritsar and Ferozpur. Worse amongst all districts is Fathegarh Sahib and Rupnagar with highest crash ratio and lowest vehicle density.
Generally, as the vehicle density (vehicle per km) goes up, the average speed goes down and that reduces the road crashes. Delhi also followed the same trend, during Asian games (1981) in Delhi; new roads were constructed and widened which resulted in an increased road traffic speed causes highest number of road fatalities in the same year in comparison to previous years. At present in Delhi it road crash fatalities has started going down because of the more number of the vehicles on road and this causing reduction in average speed. Last year total road fatalities in Delhi were reported below 2000.
6 districts are below the state’s average crash ratio value 11.4, Faridkot is lowest amongst all followed by Jalandhar, Amritsar and Ferozpur. Worse amongst all districts is Fathegarh Sahib and Rupnagar with highest crash ratio and lowest vehicle density.
Generally, as the vehicle density (vehicle per km) goes up, the average speed goes down and that reduces the road crashes. Delhi also followed the same trend, during Asian games (1981) in Delhi; new roads were constructed and widened which resulted in an increased road traffic speed causes highest number of road fatalities in the same year in comparison to previous years. At present in Delhi it road crash fatalities has started going down because of the more number of the vehicles on road and this causing reduction in average speed. Last year total road fatalities in Delhi were reported below 2000.
Coming to Punjab State, reversal is happening in Fatehgarh Sahib and Rupnagar District. Crash ratio of Fatehgarh Sahib and Rupnagar districts is 38.5 and 36.3 respectively; this simply reflects the poor traffic management system, deteriorated road condition and minimum speed control by the local administration and district traffic police. However it is important to note that Fatehgarh Sahib and Rupnagar districts have 0.8% and 2.8% of National Highways in their total road length, still causing more fatal road crashes in comparison to Ferozpur and Faridkot district which has 5.1% and 3.8% of National Highways Length in their total road length. Interestingly Ferozpur and Faridkot has got lowest crash ratio in the state. On all India basis 70% of the total road crashes occurs only on National Highways and length of National Highways is 2% of the total road length of India. Ferozpur and Faridkot districts having maximum road length of National Highways shows significant low crash ratio, which is a good indication of overall Traffic Management and Safety in the district.
If we take number of fatal accidents per 1000 km of the road length in the districts then Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib and Rupnagar falls into same category. These districts were having 50% high fatalities rate per 1000 km of the road length in comparison to the state’s average which is 44.3.
Talking about Amritsar alone, despite of this fact that crash ratio is 5.5 but Severity Index is 86.3%, which means high average speed in the district, more vulnerable victims like cyclist or pedestrians and more heavy vehicles involved in the road crashes turning 86.3% of all the road crashes into fatal. This needs immediate attention from the authorities.
District Rupnagar and Fathegarh sahib are on high alert followed by Patiala, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar and Nawanshahar districts. Government and local administration should take immediate steps to improve the road safety and management scenario in these districts to save the valuable lives of road users.
Recommendations
State’s own online road crash database management system, where scientifically collected traffic and road crash data at village/block/tehsil/road/district wise can be update regularly by various concern agencies. This will help to access the overall road safety conditions in the state.
As per Ministry of Road Surface and Transportation, government of India, Punjab government shall also ensure the implementation of Road safety audits on all upcoming and existing roads in the state. Upcoming BOT roads shall be taken on priority to check overall road safety conditions, specifically in view of heterogeneous nature of traffic in the state like slow and fast moving traffic on the same road.
Special focus by the government on the pre-crash treatments like road safety audits, safety awareness amongst road users, drivers training along with focusing specifically on Post crash conditions like providing Ambulances and Cranes and First Aid. Pre-crash treatments.
Strong enforcement to control the speed preferably by installing traffic calming devices specially in the districts where severity index is very high like Amritsar, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Gurdaspur and Muktsar.
Special and strong policies to control land use and parking pattern in the state to discourage the use of more motorised vehicles in the state.
[1] Maintained by P.W.D. (B&R), Punjab, Chief Conservator of Forest, Punjab Commander Works Engineer, Patiala, Punjab State Electricity Board, Central Public works department, Madhopur division and local bodies Govt., Punjab. it does not include the length of small rural roads under different agencies like Panchayat, Irrigation department and private people
Statistical Abstract of Punjab, Section XXI, TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS, Page 574
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