NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu has the highest number of road accident black spots on National Highways among 23 states in the country and the state has reported nearly 4,000 fatalities between 2011-2013, according to data collected by the Union Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
The ministry has collated data based on information submitted to them by the respective states, and based on the results, has asked them to submit proposals for rectification of identified road accident black spots on national highways.
According to the data, Tamil Nadu has 122 black spots with nearly 3969 people killed in accidents. The state also has the highest number of priority one black spots, reporting the occurance of 26 such incidents in a three year span between 2011-2013. A priority one black spot indicates an accident which results in at least 95 fatalities. Meanwhile, Kerala has identified 29 black spots on National Highways and has recorded 806 fatalities. Villupuram district of TN has the highest number of priority one dark spots, with 13, followed by 11 in Kancheepuram and two in Salem district. Kerala doesn’t have any priority one black spots but has two priority two black spots.
“Repeated road accidents and fatalities are taking place in some locations on NHs due to various reasons, which are being identified as road accidents black spots. In view of the great loss being caused by the road accidents to the economy apart from irreparable loss of precious human lives, it is essential to identify, investigate and rectify these black spots wherever accidents are caused due road related deficiency,” said an order by MoRTH.
The accident black spots have been categorized into first priority (above 95 fatalities), second priority (70 to 95), third priority (45 to 69), fourth priority (21 to 44) and priority five (less than 21) based on an analysis of the fatality data of all the states under consideration. The MoRTH said that various measures have to be taken to minimize the potential of road accidents at identified road accident black spots on NHs. These black spots can be classified into short term, medium term and long term spots depending on the resources required for taking immediate action as well as other site conditions and rectified as such.
The MoRTH has also said that while designing remedial measures at the identified road accident black spots on NHs a balanced approach needs to be adopted, keeping in view the improvement projects in progress along the black spot stretch.