In 2023, Odisha reports a 5% increase in road accident deaths

With 4,178 people losing their lives in traffic accidents, Odisha had an almost 5% increase in traffic accident deaths this year from January to September compared to the same period previous year.

In 2023, there were 8,939 traffic incidents from January to September, resulting in 4,178 deaths and 7,898 injuries. According to officials, there was a 6.19% increase in road accidents in 2022 compared to 2021 and a 7.5% increase in fatalities in 2022 compared to 2021. In contrast, there was a 2.84 percent increase in accidents in 2023 (January to September) and a 4.89 percent increase in fatalities (Jan to Sept) compared to 2022 of the same period in 2022.

From December 1st to December 7th, the state government will hold Zero Fatality Week in response to the increase in traffic accidents.

The goal of Zero Fatality Week is to slow down the pace at which traffic accidents and deaths are occurring. The State Government has instructed all Districts to prepare action plans in response to the Standard Operating Procedure distributed to all Regional Transport Offices, as part of its commitment to address this issue and achieve Zero Fatality from December 1st to December 7th, 2023.

Information indicates that during the Zero Fatality Week that took place in April of this year, 2022, there was a fall of 14.6% in deaths and a decrease of 33% in accidents. The best-performing districts at that time were Boudh, Rayagada, Sonepur, Bhadrak, Malkangiri, Nayagarh, and Sambalpur, which all had a 100% decrease in fatalities.

Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena instructed all District Collectors to surpass prior performance, include all government agencies and staff, and develop an action plan.

Members of the Self Help Group who are learners and own scooters under the “Mission Shakti Scooter Yojana” will get awareness training to reduce their risk of accidents. He insisted that the engineering plan for road safety, behavioral modifications, and enforcement should come first in honor of Zero Fatality Week.

Violations such as driving while intoxicated, driving without a helmet, using a phone while operating a vehicle, speeding, triple riding, not having insurance, parking illegally, driving on the wrong side of the road, etc. will be severely dealt with.

For the purpose of finding solutions to issues like pothole removal, barrier maintenance, road enhancement, and the identification of accident-prone areas, among other things, the National High Authority of India and other organizations involved in road safety have been directed to arrange monthly meetings. The source said, “All stakeholder departments have been sensitizing their roles in detail.”