Study shows rise in pedestrian mishaps in city

Study shows rise in pedestrian mishaps in city
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: While stress is being laid on safe driving, pedestrian accidents in the city are on an alarming rise. Pedestrian mishaps make up more than 40 percent of all road fatalities and 35 percent of all road injuries each year, according to a recent study.

The study done by Traffic Engineers and Safety Trainers (TEST) has also revealed that annually, Rs 8 crore is paid as compensation to kin of pedestrian accident victims.

The study showed that over 31 percent of the pedestrian mishaps are caused by heavy transport vehicles, and 29 percent by light motor vehicles. About 20 percent are caused by two wheelers.

Significantly, 40 percent of the victims are in the age group of 31-50 years. If studied in three-hour cycles, the maximum number of accidents (22.4 percent) occurred between 6 PM and 9 PM. This clearly shows that most pedestrian accidents occur after dark.

In six-hour cycles, 6 PM to midnight registers 36 percent of all accidents, the primary cause being drunkenness among both motorists and pedestrians.

Pedestrian mishaps also increase on weekends. Saturday and Sunday together contributed 28.44 percent of the total mishaps whereas Tuesday to Friday account for only 18.28 percent of the accidents each day.

Highways (NH-4 and NH-7) contribute to a staggering 45 percent of total pedestrian accidents. Near Peenya along NH-4, pedestrians are knocked down due to improper footpaths, un-installed barricades by locals, location of two schools and liquor shops.

Similarly along NH-7, near Venkatala and Byatarayanapura, accidents are rising due to poor lighting, lack of medians, missing barricades, zebra crossings, road signs and the maintenance work.

Chairman Prof MN Sreehari of TEST has suggested some remedial measures: - Foot overbridges or subways at Iskcon, KG Road, Malleswaram Circle, Southend Circle, Town Hall and Peenya SM Circle. - Conversion of Commercial Street, Brigade Road, 8th Cross Malleswaram as “mall roads” by banning vehicles. - Minimum two-metre wide footpaths. - Pedestrian priority signals on one-way streets. - Kerb footways of minimum 30 cm height. - Pedestrian refuge islands at junctions.