Road mishaps down by 7.56 per cent in Odisha: STA

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has registered negative growth in road accidents and fatalities in the second quarter of 2023 as compared to the corresponding period of 2022, revealed the State Transport Authority (STA) today.

While road accidents have come down by 7.56 per cent, the fatalities have decreased by 6.24 per cent in Odisha, said the STA.

Odisha recorded 2,897 road accidents resulting in 1,397 deaths in the second quarter of this year against 3,134 accidents and 1,490 deaths during the corresponding period in 2022, added the STA.

According to the STA data, a total of 2,572 people were injured in road accidents in the second quarter of this year against 2,871 injuries during the same period in 2022.

“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,” said Joint Transport Commissioner, Road Safety, PK Mohanty.

Odisha observes ‘Zero Fatality Week’ from April 1 to 7 as part of an intensified awareness-cum-enforcement campaign to reduce road accident deaths. There was 33.15 per cent decrease in accidents and 15 per cent decrease in fatalities during the Zero Fatality Week this year as compared to the same period of last year.

Odisha has adopted a four-fold strategy to make the roads safe through 4Es- enforcement, education, improvement in road engineering and emergency care, Mohanty added.