11 percent reduction in road accidents in the state during this year compared to the year 2022
Shimla: We are also committed to reduce RTAs and deaths by 50 per cent by the year 2030, as declared by the United Nations General Assembly as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A five-member World Bank team, led by Vijeta Bejam, Road Safety Co-Working Team Leader, chaired a review meeting on road safety with officials of the Police Department at the Police Headquarters. Representatives of HPRIDCL, Transport Research Laboratory London were also present in the meeting. In Himachal Pradesh, there has been a decrease of 11 percent in road accidents during the period from January 1 to October 13, 2023 this year as compared to the year 2022. Apart from this, the death rate in accidents has decreased by 17 percent and injuries have decreased by 13 percent. Himachal Police has achieved this feat despite 10 percent increase in road length, 9 percent increase in annual vehicle registrations and continuously increasing inflow of tourists.
The police department gave a detailed presentation based on the NYPD model of in-depth analysis, which shows that road safety is worse than the national average in terms of both population and vehicle numbers. As against the national average of 29.30 RTA per lakh population, Himachal Pradesh had a higher rate of 31.54. Similarly, in terms of deaths in RTAs per lakh population, Himachal’s rate is higher than the national average of 13.77 as against 10.93.
In terms of vehicles, the RTA per ten thousand vehicles for India was 15.10, while Himachal’s rate was higher at 17.37. As against the national average of 5.08 for RTAS deaths per ten thousand vehicles, Himachal’s average was higher at 6.93. The NYDP model of detailed analysis of deaths shows that 23 percent of deaths are due to head-on collisions, 22 percent are due to pedestrian collisions, and 21 percent are due to run-off. DGP Sanjay Kundu reiterated the road safety objectives adopted by Himachal Pradesh Police and said that Himachal Police is striving to bring the RTA severity norms of the state below the national average. World Bank team commends Himachal Pradesh Police for making road safety a priority, resulting in reduction of Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) from 3114 to 2597, fatalities from 1203 to 1032 and injuries from 5452 to 4133 from 2017 to 2022 Are.
