news details |
|
|
| “Road fatalities an “epidemic” that will become the world’s fifth biggest killer by 2030”. | | | Bhumesh Sharma, KAS | 11/25/2010 7:43:52 PM |
| We often talk about the traffic congestion in the city of temples. Not surprisingly latest estimates by government sponsored studies show that in spite of huge investment in flyovers and road expansive, driving speeds have come down in every Indian city. This is only the beginning of the problem. For even if we want buses we cannot have them. Why? Because our rich automobiles companies, busy churning out cars for congested cities, do not have the capacity to manufacture buses. These are only two real players in the market-Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland. The use of two wheelers & light motor vehicles is increasing day by day but the use of commercial vehicles like buses is at low pace. The graph itself shows the percentage of buses against the non commercial / light motor vehicles.
“The chart shows that Light Motor Vehicles constitute 34% Two wheelers constitute 44% where as Buses & Mini Buses constitute only 1% of the total vehicle population in J&K State”……says Bumesh Sharma,
Too often road safety is treated as transportation, issue, not a public health issue, and road traffic injuries are called “accidents,” though most could be prevented. As a result, many countries put far less effort into understanding and preventing road traffic injuries than they do into understanding and preventing diseases that do less harm.
“Road fatalities an “epidemic” that will become the world’s fifth biggest killer by 2030”. Deaths due to accidents in J&K State is 1100.
“In the year 1981 the vehicle population in J&K, was 41,000 approx. In the year 1990 the vehicle population was 1,19,000 In March 2010, the total vehicle population is 7,37,000” ……..says Bhumesh Sharma.
The scarcity of buses in the J&K state is troubling the commuters a lot of hardship and due to which the over loading is being done by the buses / commercial vehicles resulting to an accident.
On 17 August 1896, Bridget Driscoll, a 44-year-old mother of two, became the first person ever killed by a motor vehicle. She and her teenage daughter were on their way to see a dance performance at Crystal Palace in London. She was struck by a car as they crossed the palace grounds. Witnesses said the car was going “at tremendous speed”. A young man was driving, giving free rides to demonstrate the new invention.
Every day as many as 14000 people are injured on the world’s roads. More than 3000 die and some 15,000 are disabled for life. Each of those people has a network of family, friends, neighbours, colleagues or classmates who are also affected emotionally and otherwise. Families struggle with poverty when they lose a breadwinner or have the added expense of caring for disabled family members. 90% of road accidents are caused due to human error. Although no nationwide study as to the causes of road accidents in India is available on the internet, there are smaller studies which confirm these findings. Error of driver e.g. overtaking at a wrong place, turning abruptly or stopping without prior signalling, which can cause collision with the vehicle following, driving fast through villages exceeding the speed limit; falling asleep at the wheel, overturning due to going round a curve at excessive speed. Trucks parked near dhabas and petrol pumps and octroi/toll naka close to the carriage leave a very narrow lane either between them for the passing traffic. This is a source of accidents. Either people crossing the road are hit or sometimes there is a head on collision also. It would be better if adequate parking space is acquired by the owners of these dhabas or petrol pumps so that there is enough parking space inside their compound for the trucks. The roads would remain clear. For Octori/Toll Naka also municipal corporation / council may also be prevailed upon to streamline the operation of octori collection so that the number of vehicles required to be parked is reduced
We all talk about ‘change’ even the Government also talks about it. But the call remains rhetoric unless we translate it into practical, everyday life, changes. To do that, we must bring changes in our business model and, most importantly, in what is essential and what needs to be invested in. What have we learnt about translating good ideas into hard realities? Anyone who lives in Indian cities and gets crushed under the weight of traffic and pollution will accept we need a massive transition to public transport. This is a win-win answer, almost as persuasive as saying ‘we believe in change’.
“But it can become so. The systemic nature of urban transportation is also the key to its solution. We need to stop focusing only on pieces of the problem: adding a new bridge, widening a road, putting up signs, establishing commuter lanes, encouraging carpooling across the entire system—and all the other systems that are touched by it: our supply chains, our environment, our companies...the way people and cities live and work. Traffic isn't just a line of cars: it's a web of connections."Smart traffic" isn't yet the norm—but it's not some far-off vision of tomorrow”, ……..says Bhumesh Sharma.
In our State J&K the total number of vehicle registered upto 31.03.2010 is 7,37,000 but buses count only 1% of the total vehicle population. In 1951, one of every 10 vehicles sold in India was a bus; today, out of every 100 vehicles sold, one bus makes it to roads. Last year the automobile industry sold 1.5 million cars. In the same year, it sold only 38,000 buses.
PASSENGER VEHICLE - HUMAN POPULATION RATIO
AS ON 31/03/2009
S. No. Name of the Distt. Human Population (P) Passenger
vehicles Passenger Vehicle-
Population
ratio
1 Jammu/ Samba 1968294 29186 1:68
2 Kathua 618590 1958 1:316
3 Udhampur/ Reasi 899253 2474 1:363
4 Doda/Kishtwar /Ramban 836868 672 1:1245
Passenger vehicles include Buses, Mini-Buses, Taxies & 3 Wheelers
Nevertheless, this gloomy picture should not, in any way deter us from making a fitting response in order to alleviate the sufferings of the people of the region on one hand and to prevent economic and social loss on the other. The World Health Organization, realizing the critical nature of the problem, is endeavouring to mobilize governments, organizations and communities to effectively tackle this problem. The theme of “Safe Roads” with the aim of generating interest among the general people, communities and organizations in developing the strategies needed to combat this menace.
Sd/-
By Bhumesh Sharma, KAS
Dy. Transport Commissioner,
J&K, Jammu.
For any suggestion & query contact me at
bhumeshsharma222@gmail. com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
