Pune, August 23, 2023 – A troubling trend has taken root on Pune’s city roads, where an average of three accidents occur daily, leading to at least one fatality and two injuries in each incident, according to local traffic police reports. Over the past 18 months, a staggering 530 lives have been lost in road accidents, prompting concern among citizens and authorities alike. This surge in fatalities is attributed to the flagrant disregard for safety protocols by motorists.
In the wake of the post-lockdown period, Pune experienced an unprecedented surge in vehicle ownership, with the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) recording a staggering 36 lakh vehicle registrations. Among these, a significant 26.87 lakh were two-wheelers, and an additional 4.25 lakh new two-wheelers were added within the past year and a half. Tragically, road accidents involving two-wheelers also exhibited a sharp increase, leading to a higher death toll, as confirmed by traffic police data.
The traffic branch’s data for the year 2022 alone highlights a total of 872 accidents on Pune’s roads, resulting in 315 fatalities. This disconcerting trend persisted into the first half of 2023, witnessing 638 accidents and 202 fatalities.
Vijay Kumar Magar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), expressed deep concern over the rise in accidents and fatalities, attributing them to blatant violations of traffic regulations and a blatant disregard for road safety. Magar emphasized the collaborative approach between the Pune Municipal Corporation, other concerned departments, and the traffic police to significantly mitigate the incidents of accidents and the subsequent loss of life.
A comprehensive analysis by the traffic police uncovered that a majority of accidents are due to sheer negligence on the part of drivers. From riding with multiple passengers to ignoring no-entry signs, unauthorized use of dedicated BRT lanes, breaching road dividers, making sudden turns, and neglecting to wear helmets, a range of reckless behaviors has fueled the surge in road accidents and the resulting fatalities.
