National Highways in Ambala record crashes

Ambala roads are proving fatal for the residents. In the past three years 59% of the accidents happened on the National Highways (NHs), reveals the data obtained from the Haryana Vision Zero (HVZ) team.

AMBALA: Ambala roads are proving fatal for the residents. In the past three years 59% of the accidents happened on the National Highways (NHs), reveals the data obtained from the Haryana Vision Zero (HVZ) team. The HVZ is a programme Haryana government related to road safety.

National highways in Ambala record 59% fatal crashes in past

Till May 2019, Ambala district has witnessed 109 fatalities which is equal as compared to the numbers from May 2018.

HVZ senior road safety associate Rashit Bajaj said, “Our team has been working on strengthening the infrastructure and increasing road safety in Ambala since three years and we have provided time-to-time reports to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). Earlier there were no dividers or separators on the highways which caused fatal crashes and we have continuously pressed for dividing the roads with iron grills and nets to decrease the fatality rate. The 23.1km stretch on NH-44 also famously known as GT road from Mohri to Devinagar toll plaza has recorded 19% of the total fatal accidents in the past three years.”

Bajaj said, “In winter, the accidents increas due to foggy weather and since last few years we have been able to keep the number of fatalities stagnant and it has not increased. The maximum fatalities are of two-wheeler riders.”

On the other side, Ambala police is continuously running awareness campaigns through its Raahgiri events and also observing ‘zero tolerance day’ against the traffic violators. Ambala DSP Sultan Singh said, “The majority of road accidents happen due to the traffic rule violations and the two-wheeler riders are requested to wear helmets while commuting on the district roads. The department is regularly organising awareness events like Raahgiri and public should support the police by obeying traffic rules.”

When questioned about the authenticity of the data obtained from the HVZ team and efforts of the district administration for road safety, Ambala additional deputy commissioner Captain Shakti Singh said, “This data is absolutely valid and it is generated in coordination of the police department. We have been regularly holding review meetings related to road safety and the concerned officials are instructed time and again according to the inputs and requirements.”