Ludhiana’s nightmare: Speeding, drunk driving

LUDHIANA: In an embarrassment to Ludhiana police, the city has once again got the dubious record of topping all major cities in the country when it comes to road fatalities.

According to Road Accidents Report for 2016, prepared by the Union ministry of road transport and highways, Ludhiana is at number one position in severity of accidents with a fatality rate of 69.9% followed by Amritsar with 67.1%.

Ludhiana, known as the region’s business hub, witnessed 549 road mishaps last year with 384 people losing their lives and another 313 suffering injuries. This year, 157 people have lost their lives in road mishaps in first seven months, from January 1 to July 31.

A study conducted by traffic police officials blames overspeeding and drunk driving – in this order – for a sizeable number of fatal accidents in the city. They had identified 45 “black points” in the city to deal with the problem of high rate of fatal accidents, but it ended there. No efforts were made to tackle the problem at these accident-prone spots and bring discipline on the city roads.

Dr Kamal Soi, member of National Road Safety Council, said the law has failed to be a deterrent as there is no fear among the people of being caught or reprimanded. The police have failed to implement the traffic rules effectively and keep issuing challans for not wearing a helmet and seatbelts, but they have failed to crack down on drunk driving and overspeeding, the two main reasons behind road mishaps.

However, Sukhpal Brar, additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP), traffic, said most of the fatal road accidents had taken place on highways, and not on city roads.

“On inner roads of the city, twowheeler riders not wearing helmet are at risk. The police are issuing challans daily and trying to minimise the mishaps,” he claimed.