Road Accidents: Is human life worthless? Study is the only solution
Kerala: The government is also responsible for every accident that shakes the country, like the Karimba Panayampadam accident in Palakkad. Apart from conducting studies to ensure travel safety in permanent danger areas, no action is taken based on them by the government or responsible agencies. The Road Safety Authority has 4 reports warning of danger at the Karimba-Panayampadam bend, which took the lives of 4 school students. This study was conducted by NATPAC, Police, Motor Vehicles Department and Palakkad IIT. The Road Safety Authority had instructed the contractors to change the road surface at this bend, but even this was not done as instructed. If you check the history of the series of studies to prevent accidents in Kerala, you will understand the depth of negligence.
2019 NATPAC Report 1
The National Transportation Planning and Research Center (NATPAC) submitted a report to the Road Safety Authority, highlighting the 75 most dangerous places in Kerala. The PWD had given an estimate of Rs 108 crore to make these areas safe. When the Road Safety Authority pointed out that it did not have that much money, the PWD gave a revised estimate of Rs 25 crore including the most dangerous spots. That file got stuck in the government’s financial crisis.
2021 Natpac Report 2
Natpac has submitted a new report to the Road Safety Authority citing 4592 dangerous blackspots. It also submitted a detailed report citing 374 blackspots that need immediate attention. Of these, a report of 227 on national highways was also submitted to the National Highways Authority. There were 84 blackspots on state highways and 63 on other roads. The Road Safety Authority has directed the District Road Safety Committees headed by Collectors to study what needs to be done at each spot and submit a report. Districts were handed Rs 10 lakh each for this purpose. The authority has not received any report on the next steps.
2023 NATPAC Report 3
The NATPAC study commissioned by the Transport Department found that 2200 km of the 323 roads in Kerala were prone to frequent accidents. It also recommended that dangerous road sections be reconstructed or road safety measures be implemented. This was also not implemented.
7 people lost their lives yesterday
. Yesterday 7 people died in various accidents in the state. Ernakulam and Kozhikode – 2-2, Thrissur, Alappuzha, Thiruvananthapuram – 1-1.
