Solapur and Pune Lead as Maharashtra Faces Road Safety Crisis; Over 13,500 Lives Lost In State This Year
Pune, 29th December 2023: In a disturbing trend, the number of road accidents and resultant fatalities in Maharashtra has surged, shedding light on the pressing need for concrete measures to address this escalating issue. Over the 11-month period from January to November this year, more than 13,500 lives were lost in 31,000 accidents across 17 districts, as reported to the Highway Police.
The causes identified for this surge in accidents include careless and continuous driving, unruly vehicles parked on roads, and rear-end collisions. The proliferation of faster vehicles, coupled with lax adherence to safety regulations such as seatbelt usage and helmet wearing, has contributed to the grim statistics.
Key Findings:
Here is the ranked list of districts with significant accidental deaths from most to least:
1. Pune (1279)
2. Nashik (1002)
3. Solapur (798)
4. Nagar (779)
5. Mumbai (541)
6. Satara (451)
7. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (435)
8. Jalgaon (432)
9. Beed (415)
10. Kolhapur (376)
11. Buldhana (375)
12. Nagpur (644)
13. Sangli (319)
14. Latur (339)
15. Nanded (340)
16. Amravati (331)
17. Chandrapur (315)
18. Dhule (309)
19. Yavatmal (385)
20. Jalna (305)
– Accidents and Deaths in the Last Three Years:
– 2021 (Jan to Nov): Total accidents – 26,535, Accidental deaths – 12,170
– 2022 (Jan to Nov): Total accidents – 30,390, Accidental deaths – 13,868
– 2023 (Jan to Nov): Total accidents – 30,857, Accidental deaths – 13,579
Here is a list of districts witnessing increased accidental deaths in 2023, ranked by the number of reported incidents:
1. Akola (28)
2. Pune (24)
3. Nandurbar (18)
4. Buldhana (22)
5. Parbhani (19)
6. Solapur (8)
7. Latur (15)
8. Hingoli (11)
9. Gadchiroli (6)
Despite an increase in fines and improvements in road infrastructure, the escalating number of accidents underscores the need for a critical examination of the root causes. The rise in fatalities, especially among the youth, demands urgent attention and concrete measures.
Recommendations for Action:
1. Strengthening enforcement of safety regulations, including seatbelt usage and helmet-wearing.
2. Targeted initiatives to address the issue of underage driving and obtaining licenses through fraudulent means.
3. Intensifying efforts to curb overspeeding and reckless driving.
4. Enhancing public awareness campaigns on responsible driving and road safety.
5. Regular review and implementation of road safety measures at accident-prone locations.
