PONDA: In last eight years, 222 persons died in accidents reported on Ponda roads with an annual average of 27 deaths, besides hundreds sustaining injuries.
Reacting to the above data released by the Ponda Police, the Ponda residents have called for adopting measures to save the precious lives lost each year in road accidents.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The data further revealed most fatalities included riders and pillion rider. Overspeeding and other traffic violations besides roads with sharp turns were cited as the main cause for accidents.
Despite organising annual road safety and traffic awareness programmes, road accidents have not reduced.
The locals demanded that rash driving be controlled and stressed the need to improve roads and highways by installing speed breakers and signboards at junctions and at vital locations in the taluka.
In 2021, a total of 300 road accidents occurred in which 24 mishaps claimed the lives of 25 persons and left 57 injured.
In 2020, of the 227 accidents reported 29 were fatal and 75 persons sustained injuries.
Viraj Sapre, a Ponda resident said, “Traffic Police need to strictly implement the traffic laws. Police just issue challans if a rider is found not wearing a helmet. Police should increase alcohol and drug tests of truck drivers, car and bike riders and other motorists during day and night and punish those found riding under influence of alcohol and drugs.”
He called for improving the roads in Ponda.
