How Safe Is Communting On Bengaluru Roads? Garden City Recorded 75 Deaths Every Month In 2023

How safe is riding two-wheelers or commuting on roads in Bengaluru? Well, 75 people, on average, died due to accidents in Garden City in 2023, as per a report in the Deccan Herald.

The Bengaluru Traffic Police data shows that 823 people have died in 794 accidents in 2023 (until November). Thus making it the deadliest year in 13 years, the report added.

In 2016, 754 fatal road accidents. The figures for 2023 surpass those of 2011, which had 727 fatal crashes resulting in 757 fatalities.

Nevertheless, the city has seen an overall decline in road accidents, with a total of 4,499 recorded until November this year. This represents a significant reduction from the peak of 7,506 crashes in 2016, the highest number reported in a span of 13 years.

These figures clearly tell that road crashes are becoming deadly as over 17 per cent of all road crashes in 2023 were fatal. In 2016, a little over 10 per cent of all road crashes in 2016 were fatal.

The Areas

Fatal crashes were most prevalent in areas beyond the central business district (CBD), with Yelahanka traffic police station limits reporting 54 fatal crashes and 59 victims. Following closely were Kengeri with 50 crashes and 51 victims, and Devanahalli with 49 crashes and 51 victims.

Within the CBD, these statistics typically remain in the single digits or do not surpass 20, attributed to the high vehicle density on all roads, as per traffic police. The increased incidence of accidents on the outskirts is attributed to the comparatively lower vehicular density compared to the roads within the CBD.

"The city is expanding so more accidents occur in these extension areas where the vehicle density is low and vehicle speeds are much higher. Road safety measures are also lacking on roads in many of these areas," the daily quoted M N Anucheth, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), as saying.

He pointed out that the per capita rate of fatalities compared to the increasing population has been decreasing, whereas the ratio of population to the number of vehicles has been on the rise.

According to him, there were 50.33 lakh vehicles on the city's roads for an approximate population of 84.4 lakh in 2011. This figure has since increased to almost 110 lakh vehicles for an estimated population of 130 lakh in 2023 (until November).

Anucheth also highlighted traffic violations, such as the absence of seat belts and inadequate helmet usage, as contributing factors to the higher fatality rates.