At a time when many are advocating express highways and multi-lane roads in Kerala, traffic records show that accidents are caused more due to motorists’ carelessness than lack of road facilities. Officials of Kochi traffic police also endorse recklessness on the part of motorists as the main cause of accidents.
Traffic records of Kochi East traffic section for the past year state the highest number of accidents in Vytilla – Aroor stretch, closely followed by Edapally– Vytila stretch. These stretches are part of the most developed highways in Kerala and have four-lane system and medians to prevent accidents involving oncoming traffic and pedestrians. While these stretches accounted for 43 per cent and 19 per cent of the total number of accidents respectively, the Edapally-Varappuzha stretch, which has the least developed roads among the highways, recorded only four per cent of the total number of accidents Thus Edapally-Varappuzha stretch remains the least accident prone road among the four stretches under the jurisdiction of East traffic police.
Assitant Commissioner of Police KE Joy, who heads the East traffic section, said “Our experience reveals that accidents are caused by carelessness on the part of motorists than bad road conditions. Motorists are less careful and at the same time cruise at higher speeds in good roads. Narrow roads limit the average speed and keep the driver more alert for accidents.”
Referring to Muttom-Edapally highway, which accounts for 28 per cent of accidents in his juridisction, Mr Joy said “Proximity of residence areas is the main cause of accidents in this stretch. People and vehicles crisscross the road frequently without caring that it is an area of high-speed motoring.”
Season-wise study of the accidents in East section reveals that the most number of accidents happen in summer, closely followed by monsoon and winter. Spring or post-monsoon season remains the period with the least number of accidents. While summer season accounted for 27 per cent of accidents, monsoon and winter follow closely with 26 and 25 per cent respectively. Spring season recorded 22 per cent of the total number of accidents.
