Road accident numbers must be brought down further

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For the city's motorists, there is something to think about in the first month of the new year. In 2023, Mumbai ranked third in the number of road crashes in major hubs across Maharashtra. The numbers show 2,214 in 2021, to 1,895 in 2022 and 1,473 in 2023. Similarly, the number of fatalities in 2021 was 387, 371 in 2022 and 283 in 2023. This means a 23.7 per cent reduction in deaths as compared to 2022. Per the latest data, there were 1,473 crashes with 283 fatalities last year. An RTO official said there is a greater density of vehicles in Mumbai and there is traffic indiscipline, which has led to several accidents.

Overall measures and the correction of black spots have led to the figure reducing over the years. An expert stated in this paper that the parameter for road safety should not be the number of fatalities, but accidents and near mishaps. Many accidents happen due to wrong-lane driving, and occupation of all lanes by heavy vehicles, forcing light vehicle drivers to overtake from the left side, and zigzag between heavy vehicles.

Let us bring the numbers further down this year. While car density may zoom, let us get rid of indiscipline. Avoid overtaking from the left under any circumstance. Do not zigzag between vehicles. This goes for cars as well as pedestrians. Make way if possible for emergency vehicles. Remember one day, you or yours may need that vehicle so always empathise. Always stick to the lanes and avoid driving down the wrong lanes, it is only adherence to rules, which has to come from within, not simply because of the fear of getting caught that will bring these numbers down. Let us make that one of the aims of next year.