75.3% accident deaths in Assam last year due to Over Speeding: Chandra Mohan Patowary

Guwahati, August 13 (NKTV): The road accident data analysis of Assam shows that in 2019, the state witnessed a total of 8,250 accidents.

6,593 accidents occurred in 2020 and 4,328 in 2021 (till 31 July).

Corresponding deaths were 3,207 in 2019, 2,629 in 2020 and 1,789 in 2021 (till 31 July).

As per the road accident data, over speeding is the major cause of road accidents and it has accounted to 54.70% of total road accidents in 2018, 84.40% in 2019 whereas the national rate was 71.10% for 2019.

Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary in a statement said that 75.30% of the cause of 2,629 deaths in 2020 in Assam was due to over speeding despite the fact that the movement of vehicles were restricted in view of the Covid pandemic situation.

Out of 2,629 deaths, 48% occurred in the national highways of Assam.

As such, special drive has been undertaken to check over speeding on highways.

“Speed limit on national highways is decided by NHAI, Government of India and not by the State Transport Department. The speed limit on NH ranges from 40-100 km/hour. The speed limit is less in some places which are vulnerable, accident-prone and black spots. But in other areas, it is up to 100 km/hour. The fine is imposed as per the speed limit decided by NHAI” stated Patowary.

The Transport department, with an aim to reduce road accidents and minimize fatalities and injuries, have initiated arrangement of monitoring of over speeding through Traffic Interceptor Vehicles in the state.

The NHAI, PWD have placed speed limit restrictions through installation of speed limit road signages at various location on the highways and state roads which are accident prone zone. Similar speed limit signages have also been installed at locations such as schools, hospitals, busy market areas, intersections, mid blocks, T & Y junctions, 4-Arm junctions etc.

It may be mentioned here that the speed restriction is only for specific location which are marked with speed limit road signages and not for the entire road network.

“Since last month the effective enforcement of rules regarding over speeding and over loading has been going on. Due to this, the number of road accidents and fatalities have both come down” stated the Transport Minister.

Patowary has further requested and appealed to all to follow the prescribed speed limit notified on the National Highway and support and cooperate with the Transport Department, Government of Assam to enforce the speed limit on highways.