In Jammu, a tragic report reveals that 88 individuals lost their lives while more than 1,000 sustained injuries due to road accidents across the districts of Kathua, Samba, Rajouri, and Poonch during the initial seven months of this year. The alarming figures prompted the Traffic Police Rural Jammu to initiate a focused campaign addressing two-wheeler violations, which significantly contributed to 44 percent of the total accidents, officials reported on September 12.
The traffic awareness and enforcement drive ran from September 1 to 14, stemming from a recent analysis of accident statistics that underscored the dire involvement of two-wheelers in road mishaps. An official spokesperson from Traffic Police, Rural Jammu, emphasized the necessity of this initiative, stating, “The data indicated that two-wheelers were implicated in a high percentage of road accidents, particularly fatal ones, thus calling for immediate action.”
According to the analysis conducted by Traffic Police, a total of 699 accidents transpired from January 1 to July 31 this year, comprising 88 fatalities and injuring 1,001 individuals. The data also revealed a significant correlation between two-wheelers and accidents; of the reported incidents, two-wheeler involvement amounted to 309 accidents, with fatalities occurring in 39 cases. The spokesperson highlighted that 384 individuals faced injuries from two-wheeler-related accidents, while 144 incidents involved single-vehicle accidents.
Notably, National Highways accounted for 102 accidents related to two-wheelers, constituting 41 percent of accidents, while other roads recorded 210 such cases, reflecting a staggering 47 percent of incidents linked to two-wheeler riders.
The findings pointed out that victims of such road accidents were predominantly below the age of 26, amounting to 27 percent of total casualties. Out of the 699 recorded accidents, approximately 445, or 64 percent, involved only single vehicles, reiterating the critical need for targeted interventions.
In response to this growing concern over road safety, Traffic Police Rural Jammu launched a comprehensive awareness and enforcement campaign across the four targeted districts. This initiative not only involved stringent enforcement actions against traffic rule violators but also aimed at educating citizens about safe riding practices.
During this campaign, Traffic Police issued a total of 8,675 challans. This included 5,767 riders penalized for not wearing helmets, 1,152 pillion riders cited for the same violation, and 1,106 violations for unsafe triple riding. Additionally, the enforcement drive led to legal actions against 188 riders using mobile phones while driving, 260 for dangerous practices, and 146 for operating vehicles without valid licenses. Authorities apprehended three minors for illegally riding two-wheelers and seized 50 vehicles modified against regulations during this rigorous operation, illustrating the seriousness of traffic violations.
Furthermore, 267 awareness programs were organized in educational institutions, libraries, and community spaces to inculcate road safety norms among the youth. Traffic Police also set up dedicated canopies for on-road counseling in Rajouri and Poonch, moving towards a more engaging approach to educate riders on essential aspects like helmet usage and responsible driving behavior.
Senior Superintendent of Police for Traffic Rural Jammu, Farooq Qaiser, appealed to all drivers to adhere strictly to traffic regulations, signalling that similar drives will extend to Light Motor Vehicles in upcoming weeks. Qaiser remarked, “Our focus remains on safeguarding lives. We will continue to implement stringent measures against rule violators to enhance overall road safety for the public.”
