Road users behaviour-main cause for accidents

New Delhi, Nov 28 (UNI) Error by drivers and a defect in the vehicle mainly account for maximum number of accidents on the National Highways with pedestrians being the most vulnerable victims, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

While road users' behaviour is responsible for 78 per cent road accidents, vehicle defect contributes 11 per cent, followed by poor road geometrics with seven per cent and poor visibility contributing four per cent.

Union Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways K H Muniyappa said in a written reply that the maximum number of accidents, especially fatal accidents and head on collisions occur on straight stretches due to high speed and bad overtaking practice.

Quoting a Research Project titled, ''Establishment of System for Identification and Ractification of Accident Black Spots,'' the Minister said factors responsible for accidents at intersections include designed layout of intersection(20 per cent), road user behaviour(31 per cent) absence and inadequacy of advance traffic guidance devices(11 per cent) and the absence of street lights(three per cent).

Pedestrians are the most vulnerable victims due to insufficient pedestrian facilities and poor knowledge of traffic rules.

Pedestrians are ranked second in making errors which is one of the main causes of accidents.

Driver error is found to be the main reason of many accidents.

Maximum number of casualties are observed by car, followed by pedestrians and then by heavy goods vehicles.

During night time trucks are involved in the maximum number of accidents.

The share of negligence and over-speeding is found to be as high as 90 per cent.

The Minister said the department has initiated several steps to improve road safety for road users, including refresher training to Heavy Motor Vehicle drivers in the unorganised sector and Highways, setting up of Model Driving Training School, tightening of safety standards of vehicles and widening of National Highways from two lanes to four and from four lanes to six lanes among others.

UNI