Accidents decline but roads remain unsafe

West Bengal Social Aspects of state

The number of road accidents under Bengal police’s jurisdiction in the first six months of 2018 declined by 15 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year, according to a study by the traffic department.
Between January and June last year, 6,247 road accidents had been reported in the state, excluding most of Calcutta. The cumulative figure for the same period this year is 5,326.
Statistics might offer some comfort but enforcement continues to be a challenge for the police in terms of vehicle and victim demography. The road behaviour of goods vehicles remains the biggest concern while pedestrians are the most vulnerable.
According to collated police data, accidents involving goods vehicles account for 28 per cent of the incidents reported to various police stations and outposts. Motorbikes are a close second, causing 24 per cent of the total number of accidents.