In a resolute move to address the mounting concern of fatalities on national highways, the Bihar government has embarked on the establishment of a specialized patrolling force dedicated to securing the safety of the state’s expansive 5,358 kilometers of national roads. Startling statistics indicate that an alarming 44 percent of all road accident deaths in Bihar take place on these highways.
Additional 1,500 traffic personnel will be required to bolster this dedicated force, a development vital in light of the disconcerting 12 percent surge in highway fatalities witnessed in 2022 compared to the previous year. Contributing significantly to these grim statistics are the factors of overspeeding, accounting for 30 percent, and wrong-side driving, contributing to 12 percent of accidents.
Additional Director General (ADG) of Bihar Police (Traffic), Sudhanshu Kumar, emphasized that stringent enforcement of traffic regulations holds the key to reducing these tragic losses of life on national highways. Consequently, Bihar Traffic Police has taken the pivotal decision to establish a dedicated highway patrol force. A comprehensive proposal has been submitted for the necessary approvals.
Expressing the government’s commitment to reducing highway accident deaths, the ADG stated, “We are implementing several measures to mitigate these unfortunate incidents. Highway patrolling vehicles, strategically positioned every 50 kilometers, will play a pivotal role in saving lives.”
This dedicated force will necessitate an additional 1,500 traffic personnel, along with a fleet of 114 patrolling vehicles equipped with state-of-the-art technology. While further details of the proposal remain confidential, it is anticipated that the initial deployment of highway patrolling units will focus on districts with high accident rates on national highways. These districts include Saran, Hajipur, Bakhtiyarpur, Mokama, Begusarai, Khagaria, Bihpur, Katihar, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, and Gopalganj. In the second phase, additional districts will be brought under the purview of this critical initiative.
According to the Bihar Transport Department’s annual report released in March, the state witnessed a concerning 16.13 percent surge in road accident fatalities in 2022 compared to the preceding year. A total of 10,790 road accidents were reported, resulting in 8,896 lives lost, as opposed to 9,553 accidents and 7,660 fatalities in 2021.
Notably, the Supreme Court committee on road safety had earlier urged the state government to introduce highway patrolling on accident-prone stretches to curtail fatalities.
By PTI
