Cuttack: Indicating a stricter enforcement of road safety norms, road accidents, and related fatalities have fallen by 7.56 per cent and 6.24 per cent, respectively during the second quarter of 2023 as compared to the corresponding period in 2022, state Transport department officials said, Thursday. The state recorded 2,897 road accidents and 1,397 deaths in the second quarter of this year, whereas 3,134 mishaps and 1,490 fatalities occurred during the second quarter of the previous year.
Similarly, altogether 2,572 people were injured in the second quarter of 2023 as against 2,871 injuries during the same period in 2022. Joint Commissioner, Transport (Road Safety), PK Mohanty said, “The Transport department, in collaboration with Odisha Police, is observing every Tuesday as ‘Zero Tolerance Day’ against traffic rule violations. The negative growth in road accidents and fatalities has been achieved due to strict enforcement of road safety norms across the state.” It is pertinent to mention that ‘Zero Fatality Week’ was observed from April 1 to 7 as part of an intensified awareness enforcement campaign to reduce road mishap fatalities. There was a 33.15 per cent decrease in accidents and 15 per cent decline in fatalities during ‘Zero Fatality Week’ as compared to the same period last year. Mohanty further said, “The aim is to sensitise the public that road safety is a shared responsibility and together we can make a difference.” Odisha has adopted a fourfold strategy to make the roads safe through 4Es – enforcement, education, improvement in road engineering, and emergency care.